Peace support operations in Africa: A joint British-Kenyan initiative

Abstract

Conference held at the Peace Support Training Centre, Nairobi, 19–30 March 2007 It is remarkable how little is known by Africanists about the extensive Western-sponsored military initiatives currently under way across the continent. It is equally as remarkable that those militaries have little exposure to the academic literature addressing the broader context in which they operate. It is important, therefore, that events such as the 6th International Peace Support Operations Senior Mission Leaders’ Course held at the Peace Support Training Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, and the wider regional security initiatives that they represent, are reported in the academic press, for the people involved are those attempting to translate lofty government ‘visions’ of a brighter future for Africa into concrete actions. African and Western military structures are responsible for channelling hundreds of millions of pounds into programmes for security sector reform, conflict resolution and conflict termination, and peace support. This particular event, held in Nairobi in March 2007, brought together senior military officers and civilians from across the continent and beyond to discuss and learn about Peace Support Operations from speakers across a diverse range of professional callings. Now in its sixth year, the International Peace Support Senior Mission Leaders’ Course is sponsored by the British and Kenyan governments, specifically by the Kenyan Peace Support Training Centre and the British Peace Support Team Eastern Africa, responsible for dispensing African Conflict Prevention Pool funds throughout the region in support of British government policy.1