Press Releases
Dispatch of a Self-Defense Forces member to the Ethiopian International Peace Keeping Training Centre (EIPKTC)
The Government of Japan decided to dispatch a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (Lieutenant Colonel Norihisa Urakami) to the Ethiopian International Peace Keeping Training Centre (EIPKTC) for the period from May 19 until June 15 (note) as international consultant for a conflict management course to be implemented by the EIPKTC.
Based on the recognition that peace is a prerequisite for development, the Government of Japan has been providing assistance to peacekeeping operations (PKO) training centers in Africa, with a view to enhancing the peacekeeping capabilities of African countries and maintaining the stability of the region. The dispatch of this JSDF member is part of Japan’s support for the EIPKTC, one of the PKO training centers in Africa. The Government of Japan will continue to provide meaningful assistance towards peace and stability in Africa not only on the financial front, but also by drawing upon Japan’s qualified human resources.
(note : The timing of the dispatch has been changed to the period from June 4 until July 1.)
(Reference 1) Japan’s support for PKO training centers in Africa
Since 2008 the Government of Japan has provided support worth more than 39 million U.S. dollars to 13 PKO training centers in Africa (Egypt, Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Ethiopia (two locations), Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa). Japan’s assistance has been directed to the rehabilitation of facilities, the supply of equipment and the design and implementation of various trainings, among others. Where the dispatch of personnel is concerned, 36 Japanese experts were sent as lecturer and/or consultant to 8 PKO training centers in Africa, which includes two Japan Self-Defense Forces members sent last year to the EIPKTC.
(Reference 2) Japan’s support for EIPKTC
The EIPKTC was established in 2013, with the goal of enhancing capacities for peacekeeping activities in the region, under the control of the Ministry of National Defense of Ethiopia. It offers training in various fields such as disarmament, security sector reform, small arms and election-monitoring, to Ethiopian and foreign personnel including those from the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and the African Union (AU). The Government of Japan has provided the EIPKTC with 940,000 U.S. dollars via the Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund to construct a lecture theatre and to develop conflict prevention, conflict management and post-conflict reconstruction courses.