Sudan Tribune
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
February 11, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) - Twenty South Sudanese police cadets
have started scholarships at an Ethiopian military academy in an effort
to improve the professionalism of the force which is regularly
criticised by human rights organisations.
The South Sudanese
police officers were welcomed warmly by government and military
officials, as well as by south Sudanese diplomats upon their arrival on
Sunday at Sendafa Police University College, located on the outskirts of
the capital,
Government
officials said the South Sudanese police officers will receive a
two-year training course, with all expenses for training and
accommodation covered by the Ethiopian government
“Ethiopia’s
contribution to the peace and stability of South Sudan is immense,” said
a South Sudanese diplomat who attended the welcoming ceremony.The
training offered by Ethiopia to the police officers is part of these
efforts,” he added.
As a part of security and defence
relationships with neighbouring countries, the Ethiopian government
every year offers scholarships to cadets and military students from the
East African region.Students are trained in military engineering skills,
armaments, civil and combat ethics and other police-related and
military disciplines.
Ethiopia - a key security ally of the US -
says it has built a modern and dependable defence force, which is loyal
to the land’s constitution.
As Africa’s second most populous
nation prepares to mark its first ever Defence Force Day on 14 February,
defence Minister Siraj Fegesa said military institutions established in
the country have played a significant role in bringing the defence
force to its current standard.
He
underscored the presence of a competent defence force, citing the
different peace keeping missions Ethiopia has participated in across
Africa.Ethiopia, which is the 10th top peacekeeping contributor to the
UN, currently has a brigade of over 4,000 troops in the Sudan-South
Sudan contested flashpoint region of Abyei.
IGAD INITIATIVES
Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in
partnership with UNDP, has provided capacity building training for
officers from South Sudan as part of initiatives towards peacebuilding
in post-conflict settings.
According to the state-run Ethiopia
Radio and Television Agency (ERTA), the five-day training course in
Addis Ababa includes an overview of conflict and change, while providing
tools for conflict analysis in a way that helps map post conflict
management.
South Sudan is the latest and newest nation to join
the East African regional body.Trainees underscored the importance of
the timely training offers.They also stressed the need for more training
opportunities as it will be a crucial input to South Sudan’s efforts in
healing and rebuilding
the youngest nation which was devastated by decades of civil war.
the youngest nation which was devastated by decades of civil war.
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