Eleven troop-contributing countries from the central Africa region are participating in Central Accord 2016.

Maj. Jeffrey Sills, air medical evacuation pilot, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, Massachusetts National Guard, gives instruction on a proper four-man litter carry on the Gabon Air Force Base during Central Accord 2016. U.S. Army Africa's exercise Central Accord 2016 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Spc. L'Erin Wynn/Released)

During a weeklong collaborative event, 1-9 FA leaders and planners participated in the U.S. Army Africa-led final planning event for exercise Eastern Accord 2016 in Dar es Salaam, May 2-6.

Tanzanian People’s Defense Force Lt. Col. Hozza teaches a popular Tanzanian handshake to Capt. Bryan Neal, operations planner for 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, during the exercise Eastern Accord 2016 final planning event site visit to the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 3. Soldiers of 1-9 FA are supporting EA 2016 this summer as part of the regionally allocated force for U.S. Army Africa and U.S. Africa Command. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Jarrod Morris)

Sgt. Zachery Bunting, a communications sergeant for 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Capt. Mhelela, a Tanzanian People's Defense Force communications officer, discuss signals requirements for exercise Eastern Accord 2016 during the final planning event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 3. EA 2016 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise bringing together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Jarrod Morris)

Capt. Joshua Dickinson, operational law attorney with U.S. Army Africa and Tanzanian People’s Defense Force attorney Capt. Mbwambo discuss work on the exercise support agreement during the final planning event for exercise Eastern Accord 2016 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 2. EA 2016 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise bringing together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Jarrod Morris)

Tanzanian People’s Defense Force Lt. Col. Hozza teaches a popular Tanzanian handshake to Capt. Bryan Neal, operations planner for 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, during the exercise Eastern Accord 2016 final planning event site visit to the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 3. Soldiers of 1-9 FA are supporting EA 2016 this summer as part of the regionally allocated force for U.S. Army Africa and U.S. Africa Command. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Jarrod Morris)

Capt. Bryan Neal, operations planner for 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, discusses training priorities for exercise Eastern Accord 2016 with Lt. Col. Hozza, a Tanzanian People’s Defense Force officer, during the final planning event site visit to the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 3. Soldiers of 1-9 FA are supporting EA 2016 this summer as part of the regionally allocated force for U.S. Army Africa and U.S. Africa Command. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Jarrod Morris)

“The men sent my parents away at the point of their AK-47, then they raped me.”

Cynthia Petrigh, from Beyond Peace, discusses gender based violence at U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Commandant Ngarhordje Dedjiri and her colleague from Chad hear opening comments at the U.S. AFRICOM's Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Group photo of participants of the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Former African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha draws an African spear as an analogy to describe the challenge of executing peace operations where multiple systems of law are in use, and soldiers require the support of their command in confronting extraordinary logistical challenges." Mugisha delivered the keynote address at the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Legal Counsel to the Commander, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Marine Col. Donald Riley delivers comments at AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

Deputy Chief of Legal Services for the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, Col. Godard Busingye, (left), and President of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL), Prof. Fausto Pocar at the U.S. AFRICOM’s Fourth Africa Accountability Colloquium (ACIV) on “Responding to Gender Based Violence During Peace Operations.” Nearly 40 military legal professional and commanders from 20 African countries have come together in an effort to lay the foundation for responding to sexual violence allegations that occur during peacekeeping operations. The annual event is once again being hosted by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (IIHL) in Sanremo, Italy, Mar. 1-3, 2016. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)