ACPST Alumni Bulletin

Transcription

1 ACPST Alumni Bulletin Issue no. 007 / December

2 FEATURED ALUMNI Colonel Mactar DIOP, Officer in the Senegalese Army How long have you been working as an officer in the Senegalese Army? Could you describe your career path for us in a few words? After my training at the Senegalese National School for Active Officers from 1986 to 1988, I have been working as an Army officer for 25 years. I belong to the Army (Armée de Terre) and I have served in various positions in the combat units, the instruction centres and officers training schools, and finally in Headquarters. I have also taken part in peace missions within the framework of the UN in Côte d Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I have completed several courses on peace operations, strategic planning, terrorism, negotiation and dialogue, DDRRR (disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration) and I have a diploma from the Écoles d État-major et de Guerre (Staff and War Colleges) of the Paris Military School. In addition to my military studies, I also hold a Masters degree in public law from the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and a Masters degree in International Relations (Option: Security-Defence) from the University of Paris 2 Panthéon Assas. I am currently in charge of General Studies at the General Army Headquarters (État-major général des Armées) in Dakar. How important is the role of an Army officer for human security in your country? You know, our States are characterized by a lack of funding and Government weakness when it comes to attending to the needs of the people. The armed forces, apart from being able to be on the ground throughout Senegal, have the advantage of being well organised and having good response capability. In that context, while performing our operational activities in securing our borders and fighting armed gangs, our units provide health care to the people, build roads and schools and, if necessary, provide food assistance. We are also involved in fighting the encroachment of the sea and install protection barriers. We are regularly engaged in flood resistance and fighting locust infestation. Finally, our units take part in the running of elections by providing security at polling stations and collecting and protecting the ballot boxes. I carry out studies on all these aspects of our activities and make proposals to Headquarters. 2

3 Why did you apply for the ACPST course on new threats to human security in Africa? I wanted to add to my knowledge of these new security aspects and broaden my circle of relationships. Above all, I wanted to get to know the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) better. Has this training had any impact on your career and your work? Yes. I am now more aware of security aspects such as climate change and especially on human trafficking. Is there anything you would like to add? I would like to commend the high level of tuition provided at the African Centre for Peace and Security Training (ACPST), the quality of the senior staff and in particular the excellent atmosphere, which enables participants to socialize and establish strong ties of friendship. Above all, the trainees have a heightened feeling of belonging to a single nation: Africa. Mouhammed de Miliano, Diplomat, (Head of the Legal and Institutional Cooperation Department for Justice), Benin Could you tell us in a few words about your career path? With a Masters degree in international relations, I joined the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Benin in May 2005, where I had the opportunity to test the theories I learned against the realities of international affairs ( To link wood to wood as the Japanese would say). This very exciting profession has provided opportunities, through the many training courses I have been able to benefit from, to update my background. Most importantly, I would say that, coincidentally, my career path has turned out to be perfectly in line with my convictions regarding human security ideals and humanitarian action. Indeed, I started in the Humanitairan Action Department ( ) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I was in charge of the Department reponsible for the international protection of vulnerable persons (refugees, displaced persons and victims of armed conflict) who had fled the horror of their country of origin to settle in the territory of Benin, in search of a peaceful and secure environment for their family and possessions. I have also been involved with the management of matters relating to the Early Warning System, which is particularly important for human security. Due to the lack of financial means most disadvantaged populations settle in risk areas, exposing themselves to all sorts of natural crises and disasters which can destroy such feeble livelihoods as they may have. 3

4 Then I moved to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations ( ), where I was Head of the Legal Department responsible for Litigation (compensation for people injured or killed during peacekeeping missions, or victims of violations of the Code of Ethics for United Nations Personnel) and Institutional Cooperation for Training. In June 2013 I was transferred to the Department of Legal Affairs, where I am Head of the Department in charge of Litigation and Institutional Coopération for Justice (International Letters Rogatory). My career path is a circular one rotating around a central axis : the Protection of the Human Person. How important is the role of humanitarian action and international protection for human security in your country? In an overall political governance approach, anything that engenders fear and any threat to human security (violence against women, human trafficking, terrorism, exploitation of minors for economic reasons, human rights violations) require the constitutional protection of the Republic. Benin is a party to several international conventions, and with regard to international commitments, the protection of citizens and human security is one of the national priorities of the Executive Power. Indeed, state institutions contribute daily to this sovereign function. This constitutes a considerable advance in the vitality of democracy in Benin. Clearly, human security is at the heart of government action, to the extent that organized groups such as civil society players, local women s and men s associations, international NGOs as well as political parties work together to ensure human security through their actions of awareness raising among citizens. Why did you apply for the ACPST course on Strategic Negotiations? Three fundamental factors: representation, strategic negotiations and information sourcing are the core of the diplomatic profession. With the development of international news, the ideal for an international relations player is to be at the cutti ng edge of information and particularly modern negotiating techniques. When applying for the ACPST course on Strategic Negotiations, my practical objective was first of all to strengthen my operational capacities with regard to negotiations and to be more dynamic in my work environment and to enhance Benin s diplomacy in the concert of nations and, at the same time, at the African level. I assure you I could not be more satisfied at the end of this meaningful modern course, completely in line with the new demands of diplomatic relations. 4

5 Has this course had an impact on your career and your work? Definitely! I have observed a real change in my method of preparing sensitive cases (monitoring situation: gathering data, analysis and triangulate relevant information), with a view to negotiating cooperation agreements. For example, this course was very useful to me in the preparation of two important negotiation cases: Benin s participation in the annual session of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C34) in New York in March 2013; Benin s participation in negotiating the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within the framework of troop and police deployment to the MINUSMA mission in Mali. Better yet, the new negotiating techniques acquired enable me to be more efficient in the Department of Legal Affairs, within the framework of negotiating international mutual assistance agreements in criminal matters (international letters rogatory). Is there anything else you would like to add? To be honest, I m particularly impressed by this bond that ACPST maintains with its alumni. It is truly commendable. You know, noone can do more on the issue of institutional capacity building in Africa than the Africans. That is why ACPST is an African Centre that will always be a necessary asset to the continent, exposed as it is to the multiple hazards of human security. A better Africa is still on the cards! UPCOMING ACPST ACTIVITIES Gove rnance and Human Se curity in Africa : The ACPST will run this course in English in Addis Ababa, in the early months of The course call will soon go out, thus alumni can apply or invite relevant persons to do so. The course will focus on five key dimensions of governance: leadership and management, human rights, the rule of law, democracy and sensitivity to marginalized communities. It will use these dimensions to explore how governance is related to emerging threats like: electoral Conflict, civil conflict, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and climate change. This same course was offered in August

6 RECENT ACPST ACTIVITIES Eme rging Thre ats to Human Se curity in Africa : From 23 to 28 September 2013, the ACPST organized this course in English in the ISS office in Addis Ababa. Focusing on climate change, electoral violence, terrorism, and trafficking in persons and drugs this course addressed the following questions: What is the nature of these threats? How do they threaten human security? What are their causes? How do they relate to each other and to traditional threats? What are some of the cutting edge practical ways of tackling them that are effective, rights respecting and sustainable over the long run? The course brought together 24 participants from 16 African countries working on areas directly affected by these threats, including many law enforcement officers. ACPST Curriculum De ve lopme nt Workshop and Advisory Board Me e tings: On the 18 th and 19 th of November 2013 the ACPST hosted its annual curriculum development workshop and advisory board meetings in Addis Ababa. It brought together members of the advisory board and African practitioners working on human security issues in the United Nations, the African Union and other training institutions around the continent. The workshop aimed at increasing the demand-driven nature of the Center s activities in course selection and overall quality of offered courses, to ensure the relevance of our work. Natural Re source s Manage me nt: From 21 to 26 October 2013, the ACPST organized a course on the management of natural resources in French in Dakar. The course focused on the best ways of managing natural resources including land and mineral wealth. It enhanced participants understanding of issues surrounding the management of natural resources emphasizing some specific cutting edge skills on local, national and 6

7 international methods and instruments for managing natural resources to the benefit of local populations in equitable and sustainable ways. Participants included police and lawyers, civil society members, human rights activists, journalists, and staff of intergovernmental organizations from 14 African countries. OUTCOMES AND IMPACT Hearty congratulations to our alumni who are making transformative changes in their professional and private spaces with knowledge and skills gained from their participation in ACPST courses. We proudly present your impact stories here: St aff member, Zambia Wildlife Aut horit y (The Advocacy and Human Security Boot Camp, March 2013) I managed to write an Activity-based Campaign proposal on Human-Elephant Conflict in June, 2013 to the African Elephant Fund Steering Committee using the knowledge and skills acquired from the Advocacy and Human Security course. This proposal was approved in October, I will lead implementation conduct a Human-Elephant Conflicts vulnerability assessment and develop a mitigation strategy for rural communities living in and around protected areas in Zambia. St aff Member, Office of Nat ional Securit y, Sierra Leone (Emerging threats to Human Security in Africa, September 2013) I have used the knowledge acquired from ISS to prepare a document to include into our security requirement the need to stop the various acts of child labour in our communities. Even though much action has not been taken to criminalize this act, it still serves as a starting point in protecting the upcoming generation. Young Professional from Kenya (Emerging Threats to Human Security in Africa, September 2013) Two weeks after the ISS training I got an opportunity to lecture at Diakonia Institute, I am facilitating a 6 week module on peace and conflict resolution. The class brings together community leaders, youth, and multi- professionals working at the grassroots level. As a facilitator of this module, knowledge from ISS has found home among Kenyan s willing to engage different structures and leadership with the potential to cause conflict, to demand more from the government in the protection of its citizens. 7

8 St aff Member Environment al Right s Act ion/friends of t he Eart h Nigeria (Strategic Negotiations, February, 2013) The training gave me the prospect to dialogue a process with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry commissions in my country to protect forest reserves to check Climate change and increase Agriculture in deserted regions in the North, in order to identify and respond to emerging treats to human security such as hunger and water scarcity in the country. St aff Member LITE Africa, (Emerging Threats to Human Security in Africa, September 2013) My participation at the ACPST course on has sharpened my knowledge and facilitation skills on human security in Africa and the way I do my job. Particularly in my organization, I have been able to step up our trainings on the voluntary principle on security and human rights for private and public security providers by incorporating elements of human trafficking and terrorism. St aff Member, Friends of Peace & Development organizat ion, Sudan (The Art ist as Peace Builder, July 2013) I cannot explain how much I personally and my organization benefited from the course. I now participate with artists in the selection of the arts work after analysing & assessing the community and choosing the right kinds of arts which suit their culture, religion social backgrounds. I sometimes participated in the performance. Officer in t he Minist ry of Foreign Affairs, Niger, (Strategic Negotiations, February 2013) I can frankly say that my attendance at the ISS training course on Strategic Negotiation in February 2013 has deepened my knowledge and developed my skills in strategic negotiation. Upon my return to my country, I used the techniques acquired at my work place during all negotiations, bilateral as well as multilateral meetings. Part icipant from Christ ian Rural & Urban Dev t Associat ion of Nigeria (Advocacy and Human Security, May, 2013) From October , I facilitated a knowledge and skills enhancement workshop on advocacy strategies for 11 regional program managers across Nigeria. They will implement policy advocacy and intensive awareness building with faith-based NGO, Community Based Organizations, schools and other the media to bring about reduction in conflict risks Northern and southern Nigeria where Boko Haram insurgency and Niger delta militia activities are rife. 8

9 St aff Member, Save t he Children Int ernat ional, Mail (Advocacy and Human Security; Managing Diversity, May, 2013) Since the training, I integrate security notions in all I do daily. The skills I am using are essentially from the ISS training. Through my skills on human security, I contribute in analysing security situation and make solution proposals for protecting civil populations and in emphasis children. ALUMNI NEWS Mr. Martinez A. Mangusho (Governance and Human Security in Africa, June 2012) from the Ugandan Embassy in Addis Ababa has been promoted to rank of Senior Legal Counsel. Congratulations! Susan Siamundele (The Advocacy and Human Security Boot Camp, March 2013) of the Zambia Wildlife Authority was promoted to the position of Warden Game Management Areas and Human Wildlife Conflict effective 1 September, In this position, she will plan and co-ordinate activities of a total number of the thirty-six (36) Game Management Areas of Zambia. Congratulations! Yoletta Nyange (The Artist as Peacebuilder, July 2013) will be presenting her film Erasing the Nuba at the University of Cambridge, UK. Congratulations. ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP BY COUNTRY Algeria, 1 Angola, 2 Benin, 8 Botswana, 1 Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, CAR, 1 Chad, 4 Congo, 2 Faso Comoros, 6 Côte d Ivoire, 12 DRC, 17 Egypt, 1 Ethiopia, 21 Gabon, 1 Gambia, 4 Ghana, 7 Guinea, 6 Guinea- Bissau, 2 Kenya, 15 Lesotho, 1 Liberia, 7 Madagascar, 4 Malawi, 9 Mali, 16 Mauritania, 4 Mozambiqu e, 1 Niger, 6 Nigeria, 18 Rwanda, 4 Senegal, 15 Sierra Leone, 9 Somalia, 2 Somaliland, 4 South Africa, 8 South Sudan, 5 Sudan, 5 Swaziland, 1 Tanzania, 10 Togo, 8 Tunisia, 2 Uganda, 19 Zambia, 1 Zimbabwe 9 9