“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)

African military lawyers meet U.S. counterparts to discuss Rule of Law

“The Rule of Law is our most important export.” – U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven Hummer, AFRICOM Dep. Cdr. for Military Operations. Military lawyers from 17 African nations have joined U.S. counterparts to discuss a variety of legal topics during a forum hosted by U.S. Africa Command, Mar. 17-19, 2015, at the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Kelley Barracks. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Brenda Law/RELEASED)

U.S. Naval course brings 33 naval leaders from Africa and Europe to discuss maritime issues of mutual concern in effort to improve war-fighting capability.

NAPLES, Italy (March. 2, 2015) Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Adm. James Foggo, III, welcomes Gabon navy Chief Rear Adm. Yves Keba Malekou as he arrives for the 2015 Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Course Africa at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, March 2, 2015. During this weeklong CFMCC course, facilitated by the U.S. Naval War College, 33 senior naval leaders from maritime countries in Europe and Africa will participate in seminars and discussions focusing on the effective employment of naval forces in a joint, coalition or interagency environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel P. Schumacher/Released)

A delegation of African Union journalists spent the week of 9-12 Feb., 2015 visiting U.S. Africa Command to learn about the command’s mission and programs. (U.S. AFRICOM photos by Brenda Law/Released)

AU journalists, Jenine Coetzer (left), responds to a comment as Charles Obbo looks on during a media delegation visit, Feb. 9, 2015, at Kelley Barracks, U.S. Army Garrison, Stuttgart, Germany. Eight journalists, who are accredited with the African Union, are here as participants of a U.S. AFRICOM-sponsored media delegation visit to learn about the command's mission and programs. (Photo by Brenda Law/U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs/Released)

AU journalists engage with AFRICOM during a media delegation visit, Feb. 9, 2015, at Kelley Barracks, U.S. Army Garrison, Stuttgart, Germany. Eight journalists, who are accredited with the African Union, are here as participants of a U.S. AFRICOM-sponsored media delegation visit to learn about the command's mission and programs. (Photo by Brenda Law/U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs/Released)

AU Media Delegation visit concludes with interview of AFRICOM's Deputy to the Commander for Military Operations, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven Hummer

AFRICOM hosts AU media delegation visit, Feb. 9-12, 2015.

AU journalists engage with AFRICOM during a media delegation visit, Feb. 9, 2015, at Kelley Barracks, U.S. Army Garrison, Stuttgart, Germany. Eight journalists, who are accredited with the African Union, are here as participants of a U.S. AFRICOM-sponsored media delegation visit to learn about the command's mission and programs. (Photo by Brenda Law/U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs/Released)

AU journalists, Jenine Coetzer (left), responds to a comment as Charles Obbo looks on during a media delegation visit, Feb. 9, 2015, at Kelley Barracks, U.S. Army Garrison, Stuttgart, Germany. Eight journalists, who are accredited with the African Union, are here as participants of a U.S. AFRICOM-sponsored media delegation visit to learn about the command's mission and programs. (Photo by Brenda Law/U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs/Released)

J6 Military-to-Military communications engagement brings women from African partner nations face to face with U.S. female military counterparts

U.S. Africa Command’s Directorate of Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems (J6) recently hosted a group of female military personnel from nine African countries in a “military-to-military” engagement that focused on building relationships and sharing best practices. The event, conducted in Atlanta, Forts Gordon and Lee, and the Pentagon Sept. 14-20, consisted of cultural events, demonstrations in communications technologies and panel discussions with U.S. counterparts on how military women can serve in promoting peace and security. (Photos by Brenda Law, U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs/Released)