As per the Core Group Meeting’s recommendations, held from 5-7 December 2017 in Durban, South Africa, the African Union PSOD and ACCORD/TfP, visited the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) from 29-31 January 2018. The meetings and consultations, aimed at evaluating the ECCAS roster’s performance and operationalization. It was also an opportunity for PSOD and ACCORD/TfP to engage with ECCAS on the challenges and issues the regional bloc’s civilian component is facing.

The partners noted the issues which currently affect the civilian component and namely there are: funding constraints, human capacity, progress on the processing of candidates’ applications on the roster and logistical challenges that include the facilitation and preparation for the planned Civilian Foundation Course.

The meetings and consultations were attended by General Guy Pierre Garcia, ECCAS Deputy General Secretary in charge of Human Integration, Peace, Security and Stability; Ambassador Baudouin Hamuli Kabarhuza, Director of Political Affairs and of the Early Warning Mechanism of Central Africa (MARAC); Eustace Chiwombe, A.U. PSOD Senior Rostering Officer and Fabrice Tunda from ACCORD/TfP.