Africa Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI)
African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance
Under the Bush Administration, the African Crisis Response Initiative was transformed into a new program called the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance, which trains military trainers and equips African national militaries to conduct peace support operations and humanitarian relief. The program’s goal is to increase the capabilities of these militaries in areas such as human rights, interaction with civil society, international law, military staff skills, and small unit operations. The African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance program has a growing record of supporting African militaries that have afterwards participated in peacekeeping or peace support activities throughout the continent. This program is funded by the Department of State peacekeeping operations account.
The African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance program is funded through the Peacekeeping Operations account, which is not affected by the American Servicemembers’ Protection Act legislation.
The Africa Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) was a State Department managed, Defense Department supported training initiative. ACRI is intended to enhance the capacity of selected African militaries to respond effectively to peacekeeping or humanitarian relief operations on the continent. ACRI’s emphasis is on training based on a common peacekeeping doctrine and the supply of interoperable communications equipment, which will enable the units to work together more effectively. ACRI’s long-term objective is to train up to 12,000 military personnel. Deployment of ACRI-trained troops is a sovereign decision of the ACRI partner in response to a request from international political entities such as the
United Nations, the Organization of African Unity or a sub-regional organization such as the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ACRI-trained troops could also deploy as part of a
multinational coalition force for peacekeeping.
Headed by the US State Department Special Coordinator for ACRI, this policy initiative seeks to promote common doctrine, interoperability and standard communications technology among African forces. While ACRI encourages joint training exercises between African forces to hone their capacity to respond in emergency situations, ACRI is not designed to create a standing force. Peacekeepers from a number of African nations will stand ready in their nations of origin for rapid deployment to areas of crises as needed. Use of ACRI-designated personnel is a sovereign decision of each ACRI partner nation, in response to requests from the international community.
ACRI has already been put to good use: Mali and Ghana sent forces to Sierra Leone as part of the ECOWAS peacekeeping force; Benin sent a contingent to Guinea-Bissau; and Senegalese peacekeepers engaged under the UN mission in the Central African Republic.
The African Crisis Response Initiative is a training initiative intended to work with various African states to create highly effective, rapidly-deployable peacekeeping units, which can operate jointly in the event of humanitarian crisis or a traditional peacekeeping operation. To date, more than 5,500 African troops have been trained under the program.
As Executive Agent for ACRI, US European Command is responsible for the development of the military aspects involved in establishing and maintaining the concept. USEUCOM is supported in this role by the US Central Command, US Special Operations Command, US Atlantic Command, and US Transportation Command.
US forces conducting ACRI battalion-level training come under the operational control of the Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). ACRI training is conducted by soldiers deployed from the Third Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
USEUCOM also provides tailored packages of equipment and trainers for brigade-level training in the area of responsibility, as evidenced by the first-ever brigade training event conducted in Senegal, Sep-Nov 2000. Partnerships make ACRI a success, not only those with participating African countries, but also European countries with an interest in furthering security and stability for Africa. In Apr 1998, 3rd SFG forces deployed to Ghana and for the first time joined forces with their counterparts from Belgium to conduct ACRI training.
As part of a comprehensive policy review undertaken by the ASD for International Security Affairs, ISA/AFR has worked on a transition plan graduating the program into a viable security tool for the USG. Currently the DASD for Africa and the A/S of State for Africa are working toward an organizational change for ACRI that will meet the objectives of both departments.
From July 1997 through 2001, ACRI conducted battalion initial training in Senegal, Uganda, Malawi, Mali, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin. Initial training was scheduled for October 2000 in Kenya. ACRI has conducted battalion follow-on training for Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi and Mali. Future follow-on training is scheduled for all ACRI partner nations. Initial and follow-on training in Ethiopia has been deferred until resolution of the Ethiopian/Eritrean conflict. (follow-on training in Uganda and Cote d’ Ivoire has been placed on hold due to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the case of the former, and a coup, the case of the latter). To date, ACRI has provided training and non-lethal equipment to almost 6,000 peacekeepers from seven African militaries.
During initial battalion training, US Army instructors train African soldiers in highly professional interoperable program of instruction in peacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations. The ACRI program -- for both initial and follow-on training -- exposes the host military to the full range of peacekeeping tasks, from convoy escort, logistics, and protection of refugees, to negotiations and command and control. ACRI has increased both the level and character of involvement of non-governmental, private voluntary and international organizations in ACRI training in order to increase African peacekeepers’ capacity to respond to complex humanitarian emergencies. A series of four follow-on events offer a mix of commuter assisted exercises, refresher as well as battalion staff training activities.
Initial battalion training is conducted by US Army instructors in a professional program of peacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations. The initial training includes instruction in military operational skills, command and staff operations, and computer-simulated exercises. Observance of human rights, issues of humanitarian law, negotiation and mediation, and other humanitarian concerns relevant to peacekeeping are interwoven into the training program.
Follow-on training begins six months after initial training, and continues every six months for two and a half years. It allows a progressive building-block process focused on commanders and staff at all levels, and is based on the "train the trainer" concept, combining classroom instruction, field training, and computer-assisted simulation. The ACRI program -- for both initial and follow-on training -- exposes the host nation's military to the full range of peacekeeping tasks authorized under chapter 6 of the UN Charter: convoy escort, logistics, protection of refugees, negotiations, and command and control.
Brigade-level training provides for subregional command and control structures. The first-ever Africa Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) brigade training in Senegal, 11 Sep-2 Nov 2000. The initial brigade staff training began in Senegal, with Kenya to follow in April of 2001. The 509th Signal Battalion, Vicenza, Italy, observed Senegalese communications soldiers as they setup and align a mobile satellite telephone antenna during a field training exercise. Two mobile SATCOM phones were provided to participating African countries as non-lethal equipment under the Africa Crisis Response Initiative. A medical readiness training exercise [MEDRETE] was part of a culminating practical application exercise for Senegalese medical troops participating in peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance training.
ACRI has already contributed to conflict resolution in Africa, where several partner countries have made a sovereign decision to deploy peacekeepers in international operations. For example, an ACRI-trained battalion from Mali recently deployed to Sierra Leone as part of the ECOWAS peacekeeping force; soldiers from Ghana are also involved in this operation. In addition, ACRI-trained troops from Benin are deployed as a part of an ECOWAS-approved peacekeeping force in Guinea-Bissau and Senegalese soldiers are engaged under the UN mission in the Central African Republic.
In support of the program’s objectives to encourage broad-based peacekeeping cooperation throughout Africa, ACRI has expended $15 million in FY 1997 and $22 million in FY 1998. ACRI expended approximately $18 million for FY 1999, $20 million for FY 2000 and FY 2001 and requested an additional $20 million for FY 2002.
The Bush Administration sought $24 million in FY2004 under the Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) for Africa programs, compared with an $40 million requested in FY2003. Support for the Africa Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI), which trained small units of African armies for possible peacekeeping duties, as well as for other regional peacekeeping initiatives, came from the PKO program. In FY2004, ACRI is to be succeeded by the Africa Contingency Operations Training Assistance (ACOTA), which will focus on training trainers and on programs tailored to individual country needs. Foreign Military Financing resumed in FY1999 and would rise from $18.5 million to $23 million under the FY2004 request. International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs in Africa are aimed at promoting professionalism and respect for democracy and human rights, while enhancing capabilities for participation in peacekeeping operations. These programs usually run well under $1 million per country, although Senegal is slated for $1 million in under the FY2004 request and South Africa, would receive $1.6 million. Overall, IMET would rise from $11.1 million to $12.5 million under the FY2004 request.
The United States contributes to United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa and elsewhere through a program entitled Contributions to International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA). Funds for CIPA are appropriated in the legislation that funds the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, rather than in the Foreign Operations appropriation, which governs foreign assistance. CIPA for Africa increased significantly in FY2002 due to US support for UN peacekeeping in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Stabilization in Sierra Leone has brought a subsequent reduction in this program.
