By Mama A. Touray
The Gambia Armed Forces on Friday certified over thirty officers who concluded training on core competency in peacekeeping operations.
The training which lasted for two weeks was conducted by Alioune Blondin Beye Peacekeeping School Mobile Training team from Mali.
Speaking at the graduation and certification of the soldiers’ ceremony held at Officer’s Mess, Kotu, Muhammed Jarra in his course overview said his institution, Alioune Blondin Beye Peacekeeping School, is a peacekeeping school deployed these mobile training teams to lead and conduct specific training for two weeks on core knowledge and competency in peace operation to support the Gambia Armed Forces within the framework of their preparedness because of future deployment for United Nation and also African Union peacekeeping operation.”
He added that UN peacekeeping operations help countries navigate through difficult paths from conflict to peace.
He renewed the constant sustenance of his peacekeeping school towards the Gambia Armed Forces to capacity building and enforcement.
Director of Training and Doctrine doubles as Director of Operations at the Gambia Armed Forces Training School said the presence of this training school in the Gambia to train the Gambia Armed Forces personnel was a clear manifestation of the genuine consistent and reliable relationship that exists between the two institutions.
He said their delegation has improved the capacity of the officials to be able to carry out any peace support operation.
Adding that, he is convinced that all the certified officers are equipped with the requisite skills to be able to operate in any peace support operations.
Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the participants was Captain Kemo Kanteh. He said the training could not have come at a better time than this as the armed forces prepare to send its officers for the UN peacekeeping mission.
