In the Field

USIP trained hundreds of African peacekeepers in seven nations this year in how to negotiate and mediate the peace.

Rwanda experienced a failed peacekeeping effort and underwent a horrific tragedy in 1994. More recently, the Darfur region of Sudan has undergone similar experiences. Today, Rwandan soldiers are playing a major role in Darfur as peacekeepers, and USIP is helping train them on how to do it.

Ted Feifer and Keith Bowen led a third workshop for Rwandan Defense Force officers preparing an infantry battalion for deployment with the United Nations/African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The training was conducted in partnership with the Department of State's African Contingency Operations and Training Assistance Program (ACOTA).

Each year the Spanish non-governmental organization Helsinki España conducts at least two month-long workshops on Rapid Coordination and Assistance for Conflict Prevention Operations, Crisis Management and Post-Conflict Rehabilitation. The workshops are designed to prepare participants from countries all over the world for work in field missions of international organizations. They dovetail with UN and OSCE training programs, and are part of the UN-accredited system of international peace-support operations training (UNITAR). USIP’s Professional Training Program has been participating as a content-deliverer for several years. During the week of October 30 to November 4, Program Officer Jonathan Morgenstein conducted a workshop on post-conflict negotiation and mediation skills. He also focused on the relationship between military and civilians in post-conflict zones. Later he gave instruction on modern issues of conflict in Africa, focusing specifically on Darfur, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.