ICRC Trains ECOWAS Standby Force on Law of War

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International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has begun training on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) otherwise known as law on war with members of the Economic Community of West African State- Standby Force (ECOWAS SF).

The five-day training began in Abuja on Monday aimed at instilling the best practice in the ECOWAS force.

A statement by ICRC stated that “almost 40 members of the ECOWAS SF began a training course today (Monday) on international humanitarian law (IHL) also known as law of war - and rules applicable in law enforcement in armed conflict situations.

“The five-day training is jointly conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the ECOWAS Commission.”

According to the statement, “We live in times characterised by increasingly complex situations of armed conflict and violence, not just in Africa but the world at large.”

ICRC’s Deputy Head of delegation in Nigeria, Myriam El Kholi, was said to have stated at the opening of the training, that “it is a time like this that challenges us to emphatically demonstrate in our words and actions that wars do have limits.”

The statement revealed that: “The ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) is a multidisciplinary force composed of military, police and civilian personnel from the ECOWAS member states. The ESF provides personnel for regional and continental Peace Support Operations Missions. This training is meant to further enhance the operational readiness of the ESF which was attained in 2015.

“The integration of IHL and other rules applicable in law enforcement situations in the operational practices of the ECOWAS Standby Force should promote respect for these laws regardless of where members are deployed for peacekeeping operations in the region.

“We aim to pass across the message that the protection of civilians is always at the core of any peacekeeping mission,”, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Halima Ahmed, was quoted to have said at the opening of the training.

The statement said: “The workshop, which the ICRC previously conducted in 2009 and 2016, will discuss the operational situations where IHL and other rules pertaining to law enforcement situations apply; practical application of legal concepts in military operations and the protection of civilians in the conduct of hostilities.

“The ICRC cooperates closely with the ECOWAS commission in promoting integration of IHL into regional states’ national legislation as well as the inclusion of IHL and other rules applicable in law enforcement operations into relevant doctrine and training of military and other security forces.”

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