Written question asked by Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 21 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 January 2005. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Thursday, 13 January 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures he has taken in respect of the UK commitment to train 20,000 African Union troops over the next five years.

Answer: Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has taken in respect of the UK commitment to train 20,000 African Union troops over the next five years. [207056] Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is organising this training in two different ways. First, by direct action, for example through British military training teams deployed to Africa, conducting specific training for Peace Support Operations (PSO) and training prior to actual PSO deployments, as well as through UK- based regular professional training modules offered to African officers. Second, indirectly through our support to the development of international training centres of excellence. Examples are the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana, the Peace Support Training Centre in Kenya, the Tactical Peace Support Training Centre in Bloemfontein, South Africa and the Jaji Peacekeeping Training Wing in Nigeria. Helping to build such training centres, as well as the training of trainers, has a major multiplier effect and is in line with the UK and wider international policy for the development of African PSO capacity over the longer term.

Secondary information