Towards developing a common continental force for greater effi ciency in a multinational environment

This report documents the Fourth African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held from 1 November to 3 November 2010 in Jinja, Uganda. The conference aimed to develop a framework for a common continental force to improve efficiency in multinational environments by reviewing the roles of military, police, and civilian components in African peace support operations (PSOs).

• The African Conference of Commandants (ACoC) seeks to standardize military education and training across African Staff Colleges to support the African Standby Force (ASF) and multidimensional peace support operations (PSOs).
• ACoC faces significant financial risks due to its reliance on a single donor, the Government of the United Kingdom, for its management budget, which is estimated at ZAR 450,000 (US$ 64,285).
• Contemporary peace support operations have evolved from simple military cease-fire operations to complex multidimensional missions requiring the integration of political, security, development, humanitarian, and human rights functions.
• The African Union (AU) recognizes eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as building blocks for the union, but challenges remain regarding overlapping memberships and the shift from economic focuses to peace and security mandates.
• The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has faced operational challenges including a lack of maritime capability to address piracy, inadequate air support utility, and the use of improvised explosive devices by militant groups like Alshabab and Izbul Islam.
• Formed Police Units (FPUs) are used in PSOs for public order management and the protection of personnel; they are often more acceptable in IDP and refugee camps than heavily armed military forces.
• ACoC members proposed the establishment of a Pan African Staff College and are seeking formal recognition from the African Union to achieve legal standing and potentially secure AU funding.

APA

Oder, S., Ndung’u, I., & Nibishaka, E. (2011). Towards developing a common continental force for greater effi ciency in a multinational environment. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/TDCFEng.pdf

Chicago

Oder, Sandra, Irene Ndung’u, and Emmanuel Nibishaka. Towards developing a common continental force for greater effi ciency in a multinational environment. Institute for Security Studies, 2011. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/TDCFEng.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Oder |first1=Sandra |last2=Ndung’u |first2=Irene |last3=Nibishaka |first3=Emmanuel |title=Towards developing a common continental force for greater effi ciency in a multinational environment |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2011 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/TDCFEng.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{oder2011towards, author = {Oder, Sandra and Ndung’u, Irene and Nibishaka, Emmanuel}, title = {{Towards developing a common continental force for greater effi ciency in a multinational environment}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2011}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/TDCFEng.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }