TUNIS, Tunisia, September 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union (AU) and partners have concluded, in Tunis, a three-day regional security sector reform (SSR) training workshop for representatives of the countries of North Africa. The workshop, which commenced on 16 September 2014, is part of a series of similar events organized across the continent in order to popularize the AU SSR policy.
The workshop was organized by the AU and was held jointly with the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), with technical assistance from the African Security Sector Network (ASSN). The workshop, which was held as part of the AU SSR project “Building African Union Capacities in Security Sector Reform (SSR): A Joint United Nations/European Union Support Action”, was attended by 21 representatives from the Egypt, Mauritania, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, and Sudan. Participants also included representatives from the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA), the AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), the North African Regional Capability (NARC), the Community of Sahel – Saharan States (CEN-SAD), the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the AU Liaison Office in Libya, and the office of the UN Development Porgramme in Tunisia.
The purpose of the workshop was to introduce participants to the AU Policy Framework on SSR, in the context of the operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). It provided an opportunity to sensitize participants on key concepts in SSR, as well as on the AU, UN and EU approaches to supporting nationally-led SSR processes. The Policy Framework on SSR, adopted by the AU Assembly in January 2013, aims to contribute to the development of effective partnerships at the regional and continental levels in the area of SSR.
The workshop also discussed how the AU Policy Framework on SSR can inform nationally-led efforts to identify opportunities and address challenges of SSR in North Africa. The workshop concluded with the handing over of certificates to participants who completed the orientation course.
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