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The Physical Security & Stockpile Management (PSSM) Course has brought together participants from Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Comoros, Rwanda, and Cameroon for an intensive five-day training conducted in French.
Sponsored by Austria, the course serves as a critical platform for strengthening technical expertise and enhancing best practices in the management, control, and security of stockpiles. Through a combination of practical sessions, expert-led discussions, and scenario-based learning, participants are gaining hands-on skills tailored to address real-world security challenges across their respective countries.
Participants are not only building individual capacity but are also equipped to return home as agents of change, driving reforms, improving accountability, and reinforcing national and regional security frameworks. The diversity of participating countries adds a powerful regional dimension to the training. By fostering collaboration among Francophone nations, the course is creating a strong network of professionals who can share knowledge, harmonize approaches, and collectively address emerging security threats. This exchange of experiences and best practices enhances interoperability and promotes a unified approach to stockpile management across borders.
As the course progresses, it continues to build more than just technical expertise, it is shaping a shared commitment to stronger, safer, and more accountable systems. The knowledge being exchanged and the networks being forged will extend far beyond the training room, driving sustained impact and reinforcing collective efforts toward lasting peace and security across the region.
The course provides a platform for senior officers to engage in scenario-based discussions and strategic planning sessions that mirror real operational challenges. Through these engagements, participants refine their ability to synchronize efforts across different components of a mission while reinforcing the importance of unified command and effective communication in the field.
The General Officer Commanding Eastern Command, Major General L K Kutto emphasized that pre-deployment training remains a critical enabler in the success of military operations. He noted that such programmes ensure commanders and their staff share a mutual understanding of mission objectives, operational procedures, and the complexities of the environment in which they will operate. He further highlighted that well-prepared command teams are better positioned to make timely decisions, coordinate resources effectively, and maintain operational momentum in demanding situations.
The programme ultimately contributes to building cohesive command structures capable of delivering effective leadership and supporting the broader objectives of peace support operations under AUSSOM.
Focused on enhancing leadership, operational readiness, and mission effectiveness, WMPOC equips participants with critical skills required to navigate complex peacekeeping environments. Beyond technical training, the course builds confidence, resilience, and the ability to take on strategic and leadership roles in peace operations.
Sponsored by the United Kingdom, Austria, and Finland, the course reflects strong international commitment to advancing inclusive peacekeeping. Speaking during the opening, the Commandant HPSS, Brigadier C K Mundui, emphasized that empowering women in uniform is key to strengthening the effectiveness and responsiveness of modern peace operations.
In her remarks, the Chief Guest, UN Women Country Representative, Kenya, Antonia NβGabala, underscored the importance of strong partnerships and sustained investment in advancing gender equality in peace operations. She emphasized that initiatives such as WMPOC are critical in building a pipeline of skilled and confident women leaders, ensuring their meaningful participation and influence in shaping global peace and security outcomes.
WMPOC continues to make a lasting impact by expanding the pool of trained women military officers, enhancing mission effectiveness, and paving the way for greater representation of women in leadership roles within peace operations.
