From 20 to 30 July, the United Nations Office to the African Union participated in the African Union-led Pre-Deployment Verification of an Ethiopian National Defence Force contingent scheduled for deployment to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Conducted at the request of the AU Peace Support Operations Division, the verification assessed the contingent’s operational, logistical, administrative and medical preparedness and its readiness to undertake assigned Mission tasks. The assessment covered mandatory pre-deployment requirements, individual and leadership training, weapons handling, medical preparedness, counter-improvised explosive device awareness, conduct and discipline, and compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law.
The verification included inspections of individual equipment, personnel documentation, vaccination records and medical screening requirements. Scenario-based exercises covering VIP escort, base protection, cordon-and-search operations and patrol activities were also conducted to assess decision-making, coordination and operational responsiveness.
The assessment found that the contingent demonstrated satisfactory levels of preparedness and met the required training, medical, equipment and logistical standards for deployment. The exercise also reinforced AU–UN cooperation in strengthening preparedness and standards for African peace support operations.
