UNOAU participated in a five-day Annual AU Police Coordination meeting convened by the PSOD at Park Inn Hotel, Nairobi-Kenya from 4 to 8 December 2023. The UNOAU was represented by the Head of Institutional and Operational Partnership Service (IOPS) and Alex Ndili, the Police Reforms Advisor. The meeting brought together two Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and two Regional Mechanisms(RMs) Namely, Economic Community of Western Africa States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), North African Regional Capability (NARC) and the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF). Other Stakeholders and key partners attending the meeting were members of the PSSG, Representatives from GIZ, Institute for Security Studies (ISS), African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL).

The aim of the year’s annual meeting was to enhance Coordination, Collaboration, Consultation, Cooperation and Integration for effective development of AU-ASF police capabilities. Detailed updates on Assessments, Verifications and rostering of Pledged Capabilities were presented and discussed in line with relevant provisions and guidelines.

The aim of the meeting was to assess the state of preparedness of ASF Pledged Police capabilities and adopt a common coordination strategy between the AUPSOD, the RECs/RMs and key partners.  Comprehensive discussions during the meeting focused on the areas of Professional Competence, structure, composition and responsibilities of Police PLANELMs in the sustenance of competent ASF Pledged Police Capabilities.  Key outcomes of the meeting included renewed commitment by the AUPSOD, RECs/RMs and partners to improve communication and coordination for the primary purpose of meeting emerging policing complexities in AUPSOs.

In recommendations and way forward, the UNOAU was greatly appreciated for technical and advisory support, including in the designing of Police Rostering process, review of Pre-deployment Training packages, guidelines on the selection and appointment of Professional Police Staff for RECs/RMs and accreditation of Police Training Centres of Excellence(TCEs). Finally, participants were guided in the drafting of a work plan for 2024 ASF police activities. This was a major departure from previous practice, as the work plan will constitute a key element in monitoring and assessing desired outcomes at the close of year 2024. The next Annual AU Police Coordination Meeting will be held in Cairo, Egypt at the close of the year 2024.