MDF to increase role in peacekeeping missions
Malawi Defence Force (MDF) has announced plans to increase its participation in peacekeeping missions, saying it will be training two battalions at once as well as employing others in specialised services.
MDF Commander General Griffin Supuni Phiri said this yesterday when he closed the Malawi Battalion (Malbatt) Pre-deployment Training for over 850 soldiers set to be deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the next 12 months.
The training was supported by the United States of America (USA) and British governments whose armed forces drilled their Malawian counterparts for six weeks at Malawi Armed Forces College (Mafco) in Salima and Chikala Hills in Machinga.
During the ceremony, it was also announced that MDF has attained full training capabilities (FTC) whereby it will be able to prepare its soldiers and others from neighbouring countries for peacekeeping missions.
In her remarks, US Ambassador Virginia Palmer said there is understanding that their deployment involves sacrifice as it will take them far from home and close to danger but the risks inherent in military service are what make armed forces a unique profession.
British High Commissioner Holly Tett urged the soldiers not to become tourists on their tour of duty as the long suffering people of DRC are looking up to them as their guardian angels.
She said: “You all need to conduct yourselves in a manner that honours your fine military heritage and stands proud against the tyranny of those that have long exploited the people of DRC.”
Before the closing ceremony, the trained soldiers put up a display of a mock war zone whereby they fought against rebels in order to rescue civilians.
