British trainers help build Congo's force for peace

Lining up on the dusty parade square at the Congolese Armed Forces' officer training school in Kinshasa, 175 soldiers beamed with pride as they passed out of logistic and language courses.

Smartly turned-out and stood to attention ahead of receiving their certificates from the facility's Regimental Sergeant Major, the graduates listened intently as their guests of honour - representatives from the British Embassy - addressed them in their native French.

The presence of the British contingent was a fitting tribute to the impact that the nation's vision, expertise and funding has had on beginning to turn the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) into a professional force.

Key to getting that transition under way has been the renovation of the capital city's GESM (group of higher military schools). Using UK funds, the facility's ramshackle classrooms have been rebuilt and linked together to form a top-class learning facility.

And thanks to the dedication of British Embassy staff, including Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Tim Woodman of the Royal Logistic Corps, the new buildings are being used to deliver suitably high quality lessons in English and logistics.

After watching the graduation ceremony, logistic school commander, Lieutenant Colonel Deto Bomongo, said:

"The UK has given us a lot of help in the general organisation of our logistics. We have learned a lot about how to run things and how to manage them. Now for the first time we have people who know how to organise their department and how to manage the buildings and weapons."

In addition to the logistic support, GESM also hosts the Peacekeeping English Project (PEP). Started in the former Soviet Bloc in 1995, the PEP is a language tuition scheme jointly funded by the MOD, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. It is managed by the British Council.

The project aims to teach English to Congolese troops and country manager Danny Whitehead hoped that the course's focus on issues such as the rule of law, human rights and the fight against sexual violence will have a positive impact across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Conducting the English training in-country also costs just a fraction of the £17,000 required to send a Congolese officer to the Defence School of Languages in Beaconsfield.

With the majority of MONUC's (United Nations Mission in the Congo) members speaking English and with the DRC playing an increasingly more senior role in the English-speaking African Union, learning the language will allow the DRC's troops to play a greater part in providing their country's security:

"The focus has been to improve their English so that they work better with people from other countries," explained Mr Whitehead.

"I'm really proud that we have someone who only knew how to say 'hello' and 'goodbye' and now, after 12 months, is doing teacher training. That's the sustainable model we are trying to achieve.

"There are a lot of officers and soldiers who are keen on doing it because they want to see the development of peace in the country and they look up to the international peacekeepers here. A company of FARDC soldiers also received PEP training in Mbazza-Nyungu and have just deployed as peacekeepers to the central African republic.

"We are proud to assist DRC as it begins to take on its role as a regional force for peace."

Speaking after graduating from the PEP course, Lieutenant Olivier Kabange (FARDC) said he was grateful for being given the opportunity to polish his skills with the language:

"The course has been very interesting and I have really enjoyed it," he said.

Lieutenant Pascaline Gbemani added:

"Before I came here I spoke a little English but not enough to talk to someone. I'm very happy to have completed the course and I now want to start peacekeeping work."

In addition to hosting the PEP, the refurbished GESM compound serves as a base for visiting international short term training teams. British troops from 14 Signal Regiment were among the first to pass on their knowledge to the FARDC when they visited Kinshasa earlier this year.

Warrant Officer Class 2 (Yeoman of Signals) Jimmy Samuel headed up a seven-man team that taught 100 Congolese signals officers how to use radio equipment.

Three experts from HQ Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers) - Major William Scott, Warrant Officer Class 1 Bridget Miller and WO2 Stephen Jones - provided a specially-crafted course in the safe handling and storage of weapons and ammunition for 100 students, while WO2 Luke Biggs and WO2 Andy Wright flew in from 25 Training Regiment, Deepcut, to deliver a 'train the trainer' course to 75 instructors from the FARDC's School of Logistics.

In such a vast country, the redevelopment of one officer training school may appear little more than a drop in the ocean. The United Kingdom has, however, also helped to finance the building and equipping of an administrative school and a junior staff college and is working with the Dutch to renovate a logistics school.

The UK is also set to carry out catering training for the FARDC in purpose-built kitchens. And with enthusiastic graduates beginning to filter through the system, Britain's input is providing the Congolese with the skills they need to play a part in their country's future:

"There are members of the FARDC at all ranks from the lowest soldier all the way up who want the Army to improve," said United States Army officer Colonel Thomas Crowder, director of military co-operation.

"Courses like the British one here will help them to achieve that. They wanted help from the most professional militaries and I believe that they are getting it."

This article was first published in the September 2009 issue of Soldier - Magazine of the British Army.