1. The Government of Japan decided, in response to a request from the Peace Support Training Center, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE-PSTC), to dispatch a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (Lieutenant Colonel Norihisa Urakami) for the period from May 31 until June 17 as international consultant for a conflict prevention course to be implemented by the Center.

2. Based on the recognition that peace is a prerequisite for development, the Government of Japan has been providing assistance to peacekeeping operations (PKO) training centers in Africa, with a view to enhancing peacekeeping capabilities of African countries and maintaining the stability of the region. The dispatch of this JSDF member is part of Japan’s support for the FDRE-PSTC, one of the PKO training centers in Africa. Lieutenant Colonel Urakami has been engaged, since even before the Center’s formal opening, in the design and management of its training curriculum. The FDRE-PSTC highly appreciates Lieutenant Colonel Urakami’s long-time contribution, and it is this recognition that is behind the Center’s request for dispatch.

3. The Government of Japan will continue to provide meaningful assistance towards peace and stability in Africa not only on the financial front, but also by drawing upon Japan’s qualified human resources.

(Reference 1) Japan’s support for PKO training centers in Africa
Since 2008 the Government of Japan has provided support worth more than 42 million U.S. dollars to 13 PKO training centers in Africa (Egypt, Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Ethiopia (two locations), Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa). Japan’s assistance has been directed, among others, to rehabilitation of facilities, supply of equipment and design and implementation of various training courses. With regard to dispatch of personnel, 43 Japanese experts, including 21 JSDF personnel, were sent as lecturer and/or consultant to 8 PKO training centers in Africa.

(Reference 2) Japan’s support for FDRE-PSTC
The FDRE-PSTC started activities in 2012 and opened formally in June 2015, under the control of the Ministry of National Defense of Ethiopia, with the goal of enhancing capacities for peacekeeping activities in the region. It offers training in various fields such as disarmament, security sector reform, small arms and election-monitoring to Ethiopian and foreign personnel including those from the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and the African Union (AU). The Government of Japan has provided the FDRE-PSTC with 1.14 million US dollars in total via the Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund to construct a lecture theater and develop conflict prevention, conflict management and post-conflict recovery courses, and has also sent Lieutenant Colonel Urakami four times since 2014.