Canada helps train African peacekeepers.
Canada's deep commitment to peacekeeping is highlighted in a $15-million program, now in its third year, to train African peacekeepers.
Since the dramatic failure of the U.S.-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia in the early 1990s, where many peacekeepers were killed, Western militaries have shied away from the continent, handing over peacekeeping duties instead to their less experienced African counterparts. That has produced mixed results at best in places like Darfur and Somalia.
So Canada set up a program to send eight of its military officers, all peacekeeping veterans, to the Peace Support training facility outside the Kenyan capital Nairobi to put their African counterparts, from across the continent, through three-week training courses in peacekeeping basics.
Students at the facility appreciate Canada's experience in peacekeeping. What I got from the course is a lot of knowledge because it was given by very experienced Canadian officers, said Maj. Anthony Mutuku of the Kenyan army.
The course also impressed Maj. Stephen Lesuda of the Kenyan air force. It taught me a lot of things that I didn't know before. In fact I wish I had been on this course before I'd been on the UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, he said.
More than 350 African officers have graduated so far from the program that many say is crucial to the future security of the continent.
Canadians serving Canada and the United nations well done PEACEKEEPERS.
I am proud to have been selected by The Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association to represent Canada's Peacekeepers on a portion of the Olympic Torch run. Next Monday 23 Nov. I will be doing my lap in their honour on the Confederation Bridge.
From Nova Scotia my friend Olive writes of the local hockey tornament.
Hi Robby
I was just reading the news on the local radio station out of Kentville, AVR ( Annapolis Valley Radio) and came across this article:
A local hockey team is hoping their early-bird tournament will also be a pick-me-up for troops in Afghanistan.The Western Valley Spartans Pee Wee Triple A team is hosting a tournament that starts tonight, and in honour of Veterans Week, Tournament Chair Steve Menzies says there will be a large red banner in the Kingston arena which players and fans can sign and will then be sent to the troops in Afghanistan. Teams will also wear red armbands on the ice and Red Friday t-shirts will be on sale.
Well done young Canadians thinking of and supporting our troops. I hope the Tourney went well.
Remember Everyone Deployed
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
