Head of the Planning Element and NARC Liaison Officer to the African Union have participated in the meetings of the Technical Committee Specialized in Defense, Safety and Security in its 15th session, which was held in the Nelson Mandela Hall at the headquarters of the African Union Commission in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
STCDSS holds its meetings at the level of experts over a period of two days, in which it deals with study and discussion of important issues related to the African Standby Force in particular, and issues of peace and security in general.
Among issues on the agenda is the report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, which deals with the Commission’s efforts to strengthen the African Standby Force, and the African Union’s peace support missions to address conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, and peace and security challenges facing the continent.
Among the files presented to this session are a Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and RECs/RMs regarding the African Standby Force, as well as the draft African Union Strategic Framework for Compliance and Accountability in Peace and Security Support Operation, and the draft African Union Policies on Selection, Screening and Protection of Civilians.
The agenda items also include studying outcomes of the workshop reviewing the concept of the African Standby Force, as well as the proposal for the Continental Maritime Exercise, Amani Africa 3.
It is to be noted that the STCDSS is among the specialized technical committees of the African Union concerned with peace and security. It consists of the ministers of defense and security of AU member states, in addition to the regional economic communities and regional mechanisms. It convenes annually at the level of experts, then chiefs of staff and ministers of defense and security.
