Sadc forces complete military exercise accord
Military defence forces from the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region on Friday completed the Exercise Accord 2014 which was done in partnership with the US Army.
According to exercise director Brigadier General Vincent Nundwe, the Southern Accord is a joint exercise intended to enhance U.S. and African forces’ capabilities in the areas of humanitarian and disaster relief operations in relation to peacekeeping operations.
: Jacksonsin
“With assistance from the US and Germany, we learned how Sadc forces can operate as one force in case of disaster or in peacekeeping. It was about developing abilities to plan, deploy, employ, sustain and redeploy a rapid force in response to a regional crisis,” said Nundwe during the closing ceremony on Friday
Lieutenant Colonel Modisane Ponyane, commander of the 10th Armoured Regiment of Botswana Defence Force, hailed the training, saying it helped construct readiness of Sadc forces to be effective in peacekeeping operations.
Ponyane’s observation was shared by Lieutenant Masiye Tembo from the Zambian Army who said such trainings help remove social barriers such as language, food, and culture, among others.
US Ambassador Janine Jackson said the US Army participates annually in the Southern Accord Exercise to improve capacity to conduct joint and multinational operations.
“The exercise provides unique and dynamic training opportunities for participating military partners, while also promoting relationship-building between militaries and local communities,” she said.
