The International Security Force School, EIFORCES, at Awae, some 30 km from Yaounde in the Centre Region, on Friday, November 7, 2014, graduated its ninth batch of peacekeeping and public order enforcement instructors.

The eight-week course, which began on September 15, 2014, saw the enrolment of 20 participants – all police and gendarme commissioned officers - from 13 Francophone African countries.

One dropped out while three failed to secure the pass average of 12 on 20; leaving 16 to graduate with testimonials. The first five participants were all foreigners, with Senegalese gendarme Lieutenant, Elhadji Daouda Ndiaye, being the overall best.

Addressing course participants, the Secretary of State for National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, who stood in for the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence and EIFORCES Board Chairman, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, described their training as a priestly duty. He said this entails a sense of passion, availability, self-control, devotion and commitment in the face of challenges.

He recalled that the course was unique on the African continent because the gendarme and police officers could now command, train and carry out refresher courses for internal security forces and police units in the restoration of public order and international peacekeeping operations.

Jean Baptiste Bokam commended France for the technical support in facilitating the course. Areas covered included public order maintenance, communication, peacekeeping, mobile security intervention and human rights.

Created on May 29, 2008, EIFORCES, alongside the Yaounde International War College, are recognised by the African Union as excellence centres for peacekeeping training. The Acting EIFORCES Director is 'Commisssaire Divisionaire' Patrice Doum Ndongo, who took over following the death on July 31, 2014 of Brigadier General Mohamadou Hamadicko in Paris, France. Last Friday’s graduation ceremony was attended by diplomats, police and gendarmerie top brass and local administrative authorities.