Page 68 - Coespu 2019-1

IN DEPTH
AROUND THE WORLD

Senegal Mission By Capt. Nicola Carrera

PRE-DEPLOYMENT TRAINING FOR SENEGALESE NATIONAL GENDARMERY
In October 2018 CoESPU started a project to enhance the capabilities of Senegal Gendarmery Forces. At the
first stage, a 4 weeks Course based in Italy project was aimed to form the future trainers of the FPUs to be sent
to Congo “RDC MONUSCO” Mission. The Carabinieri of the Center of Excellence trained two organic Units at
the same time (for a total of 310 gendarmes). In the past, CoESPU has already trained individual high-profile
officers from that National Gendarmery. It happened in 2005, and in means that the cooperation between Se-
negal and CoESPU is based on strong foundations. The results achieved on both sides (Senegal Government
and UN-CoESPU) at the end of the training phase exceeded all expectations. That was possible thanking the
highly professional commitment showed by everyone. Considering the technical-tactical starting level of the
Unit, the challenges were gathered and carried forward in preparation of the 13th FPUs by the MMT (Mobi-
le Mentoring Team) in all the sectors
of pre-deployment training (basic
police techniques, firearms, self de-
fense, public order, convoy escort,
checkpoint, etc) both in the Italian
phase (1 October 2018 - 26 Oc-
tober 2018) as well as in the se-
cond “in country” phase, from 13
January to 09 February 2019. The
24 trainers formed in Vicenza du-
ring the first phase were able to
train the entire Formed Police Uni-
ts under the constant guidance of
the MMT (Mobile Mentoring Team).
The MMT was composed of 4 Co-
ESPU instructors, experts on UN te-
chnical and tactical Standard Ope-
rational Procedures. The working
language was French. All the par-
ticipants showed high commitment and great enthusiasm in the activities including the General Comman-
ding Staff of the Senegalese National Gendarmery led by Major General Cheikh Sene. This perfect alchemy
made it possible to achieve excellent results: 100 percent of future peacekeepers got promoted at the end
of the training. The Mentoring and Advising, both in its theoretical and practical phases, was mainly held
at the “Ecole Officier Gendarmerie Nationale” and at the “Centre de Perfectionnement de la Gendarme-
rie Mobile” which is a compound devoted for trainings, few kilometers far from Dakar city. A constant and
important support was assured by the Senegalese Authorities, such as the Deputy General Commanding
Officer, Brigadier General Jean Baptiste Tine, which contributed in achieving extraordinary outcomes. The
training activities were concluded at the “Centre Perfectionnement de la GM”, with a multiple scenarios exer-
cise to show the techniques learned and, at the end, a closing ceremony in the presence of Brigadier Gene-
ral Mamadou Diouf (Commandant la Gendarmerie Mobile) to witness the great interest and strategic im-
portance of the Cooperation between the participating countries and the United Nations. The professional
and human experience gained during this last and significant mission, started in Italy and concluded in Se-
negal, has allowed to strengthen the bond between CoESPU and Senegal National Gendarmery. Senegal
appears to be a very valid actor as well as an important contributing Country for the UN peace missions,
exporter of professionalism and Peace in a very sensitive area like the one in which MONUSCO operates.

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