REINFORCEMENT OF AFRICAN PEACE-KEEPING CAPACITIES 

(RECAMP)

In response to the wish of African countries to take responsibility for the continent's security themselves, France has shifted the focus of its military cooperation in Africa.

1. Since 1997:

2. France has been helping to develop the military capacity of African Armed Forces for peace-keeping actions.

3. France respects the principles of multilateralism, openness and transparency of actions, and is careful not to create regional imbalances.

4.  France involves contributors and donors in its action to train and organize field exercises for African forces in peace-keeping methods and in equipment when they engage in a peace-keeping operation.

The program reflects a new commitment to Africa by France in the interest of security on the continent but with due respect for states' freedom to make decisions and the armed forces' independence of action.

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France sought to respond to the clearly stated wish of African states to handle security problems on their continent themselves.  It has consequently re-focused its defense cooperation with these states towards reinforcing their own peace-keeping capacity.

1.  Background

In 1997 the United States, Britain and France recognized the need to coordinate their programs in this sphere.  In 1998 the RECAMP Program (Reinforcement of African Peace-keeping Capacities) was presented at the Africa-France summit at the Louvre.

2.  The RECAMP Program

The RECAMP program was deliberately placed under U.N. auspices and coordinates with OAU. Its purpose is to increase the military capacity of African countries to engage in peace-keeping operations should they wish to. It helps strengthen Africa's sub-regional organizations on security issues by contributing to the development of a climate of mutual trust.

3.  Principles

The program is based on the following four principles:

• Multilateralism: a partnership has been established between donor countries and African contributing countries.

• Openness to all African countries: the RECAMP program is not restricted to any given linguistic area and is consequently open to English- and Portuguese- speaking countries as well as Francophone states.

• Transparency of contributions: actions of participants in the program are made known as is the amount of their financial participation.

• Standby basis:  The program is careful not to bring about any shift in the balance of armed forces on the continent that would not be wanted by the Africans themselves.  The peace-keeping capacity obtained under the program is a non-permanent capacity for use on a standby basis in conflict prevention and resolution.

4.  Organization

The RECAMP program distinguishes between contributors and donors.  Contributors are potential African participants in peace-keeping operations.  Donors are countries or organizations wishing to strengthen African peace-keeping capacity and include France and the other European countries.

Naturally the contributors may also be donors and vice versa.

The program consists of three components:

1. Individual PK Training of African soldiers for peace-keeping: men who already have a general military training are trained in peace-keeping skills;

2. Field PK Training: African units practice peace-keeping in large sub-regional exercises that involve various peace-keeping actions;

3. Equipment for units engaged in peace-keeping: supplies are prepositioned on three French bases in Africa, ready to equip three U.N.-type battalions and a field hospital when these units are committed to a peace-keeping action.

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