The ECOWAS Commission launched a Pilot Course on the Protection of Civilians in Peace Support Operations on May 20, 2024, at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, Ghana. The initiative received financial backing from the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
This human capacity-building effort brought together 22 participants from ECOWAS Member States who may be rapidly deployed in Peace Support Operations. The course aims to impart basic knowledge and skills for implementing the Protection of Civilians mandate within ECOWAS Peace Support Operations (PSOs). It also seeks to promote awareness of multidimensional field operations and how various components can collaborate to develop and implement strategies for civilian protection.
During the opening ceremony, Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong, Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, welcomed participants and facilitators. He emphasized the importance of the course and its alignment with the Centre’s strategic plan to be a leading training hub for regional peace and security.
Ms. Sivine Jansen, Deputy Ambassador of Germany in Ghana, addressed attendees by highlighting that civilians—particularly women, children, and vulnerable groups—are most affected during conflicts. "POC has become the central element of mandate implementation in peace support operations for the United Nations (UN), Africa Union (AU), and Regional Economic Communities and Mechanisms (REC/RMs), especially ECOWAS," she said. She added that this course is a needs-based intervention supported by Germany to aid regional peacebuilding efforts towards global peace.
His Excellency Ambassador Irchad Razaaly, EU Ambassador to Ghana, noted that the training would cover fundamental concepts of civilian protection, roles played by various protection actors, critical legal concepts underpinning POC efforts, and strategies for identifying and implementing POC at all levels. "It is expected that at the end of the training you will be equipped with requisite knowledge and skills to translate conceptual and legal frameworks into tangible actions on the ground," he stated.
Dr. Adamu Sani, Head of ECOWAS Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), declared the course open. He thanked KAIPTC for supporting ECOWAS's operational readiness through training initiatives like this one. Dr. Sani reiterated that civilian protection is central to ECOWAS peace interventions within the region.
This training was organized with financial support from both the EU and BMZ through the GIZ-ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) Project.
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