The African Union (AU) Commission's Africa Standby Force began the final phase of the Amani Africa Cycle with a command post exercise (CPX) October 20, 2010.



Aimed at determining and furthering the force's operational capability, the 10-day exercise involves more than 120 African military components and police forces from North, East, West, South and Central African regions, along with and 75 civilians and various European Union partners.



African Union Commission Chairperson, His Excellency Jean Ping emphasized the exercise is only one part of a much larger commitment.



"[The command post exercise] is the culmination of two years of engagement and partnership throughout the Amani Africa cycle of preparations and activities, designed to both contribute towards and to validate the operational readiness of the African Standby Force," Ping said during the exercise opening ceremony.



The Amani Africa cycle started in November 2008 and was developed as part of Africa's increasing determination to comprehensively take its development into its own hands, according to AU officials. In fact, they have declared 2010 the "Year of Peace and Security in Africa."

"The ASF therefore lies at the very core of the efforts of the African Union to take ownership of and lead in matters related to peace, security and development in Africa," the chairperson said.



AU officials said the progress it has made in training the ASF has not been without the help of its partners.



"Indeed, a popular proverb in Kirundi states that, if you want to walk fast, you should walk alone, but if you want to walk far, you should walk together," Ping said of the importance of partnership.



The European Union has assisted the AU in its efforts, supporting various projects including development and preparation of the Africa Standby Force (ASF). U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has also established a long-term partnership with the AU to provide communications links to the Africa Standby Force (ASF) -- part of the AU's Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD).



U.S. AFRICOM has helped the African Union build its communications capability throughout the continent by establishing a Peace Support Operations Center in Addis Ababa; providing training to the PSOD; and integrating their activities into African Endeavor, a U.S.-led continent-wide communications exercise that allows African nations to gain experience communicating with each other and with the international community during an emergency. These activities were used to prepare the ASF for the Amani Africa CPX and for future operations.



Amani Africa's CPX is a collaborative exercise where forces are simulated, involving the commander, staff, and communications within and between participating headquarters -- in this case, a mission and strategic headquarters. Amani Africa's CPX simulates a peace support operation in the Republic of Carana, located on the fictitious island sub region of Africa called Kisiwa. Participants at all levels are given scenarios. The exercise scenarios are then coordinated between the AU, mission headquarters, and strategic headquarters in order to respond holistically. Scenarios involve issues related to refugee protection, human rights, gender, rule of law, general security, political engagement and troop and police contributing country management.



The main scenario of the exercise involves the Vrai Mouvement Patriotique de Carana (VMPC), a movement group intent on weakening the African Union Mission in Carana (AMICA) and gaining a foothold in the Mahbek province of Carana.



VMPC members have conducted various attacks on the civilian population in Carana, targeting displaced people in camps; committed gender-based acts of violence; attacked police officers; and recruited young men into their movement.



ASF personnel coordinate within all levels of their mission and strategic headquarters to develop plans of action to address issues from every aspect. The plans are then simulated carried out with ground forces.



Scenarios like this serve as a means to increase awareness of the force's capabilities, procedures and requirements among the senior AU leadership and member states, along with preparing and evaluating the readiness of the force in its future role providing peace and security.



"The African Standby Force itself is a key component in the management of crisis management," said Retired Nigerian Major General Samaila Iliya, Amani Africa CPX exercise co-director. "It is a component that must be robust. It has to be capable of undertaking a range of activities in terms of peace operations. If you look at the present environment, especially that of Africa, you'll see there are quite a number of challenges, especially when it concerns peace and stability."



Iliya said the regional divisions have conducted several exercises and training on their own, which had prepared them well for the CPX that has integrated them all. There is more work to be done, he said, but the exercise participants have done well.



After the exercise is completed, ASF procedures will be evaluated and refined. Once operational, the Africa Standby Force will deploy in times of crisis in Africa, taking their experience to the next level by providing assistance to Africans and helping bring peace and stability across the continent.