Defence hosts AMANI AFRICA II field training exercise, 19 Oct to 7 Nov

07 Oct 2015

South Africa hosts AMANI AFRICA II Field Training Exercise, at the Army combat Training Centre in the Northern Cape

The African Union (AU) will conduct the AMANI AFRICA II Field Training Exercise (AAII FTX) in South Africa from 19 October 2015 to 7 November 2015. The aim of the exercise is two-fold:

to evaluate the state of readiness of the African Standby Force (ASF) and
to exercise its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC)

in order ascertain gaps and requirements for achieving Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the ASF by December 2015.

The exercise is conducted through endeavours and contributions of five (5) Regional Economic Communities, as structures of the African Union. The Regional Economic Communities are:

North African Regional Capability (NARC
East African Community (EAC).
Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS)

The Southern African Developing Community (SADC) is the Host Region for the exercise and South Africa is the Host Nation.

The Exercise was originally planned to be conducted in the Kingdom of Lesotho in November/December 2014. However, due to political and security situation in Lesotho, at the time, it was not feasible to conduct the exercise in Lesotho. Subsequently South Africa was identified to host the exercise. Therefore the Exercise will be conducted in South Africa at the South African Army Combat Training Centre (CTC) in the Northern Cape.

The exercise codename is Ex AMANI AFRICA II.

Amani Africa is a ki-Swahili phrase meaning Peace in Africa.

The exercise is based on a scenario created in a fictitious country named the Republic of Carana. The exercise setting provides for two scenarios in order to address the aim of the exercise.

The first scenario referred to in the exercise as Scenario 6 is based on the report that security situation in the Republic of Carana has deteriorated into an extent that the AU deemed it necessary to deploy its Rapid Deployment Capability to address the situation. This will then give an AU, acting on AU Scenario 6 and Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter an authority to intervene by deploying the Rapid Deployment Capability of its standby force. This will then provide the AU an opportunity to exercise its Rapid Deployment Capability.
The second scenario, which is referred to as Scenario 5 is based on the report that the security situation has changed and the situation is conducive for the deployment of a traditional and multi-dimensional peacekeeping force for Peace Support Operations. This will give an AU, acting on AU Scenario 5 and Chapter 6 of the United Nations Charter an opportunity to evaluate the state of readiness of the African Standby Force to undertake a peacekeeping mission.

Approximately 5 400 members from the military, police and civilian components representing four of the Regional Economic Regions of the AU will participate in the exercise. The major Troop Contributing Countries towards the exercise are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Other contributing and/or participating countries involved in the exercise are Algeria, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda.

The exercise will take place over the period 26 October to 4 November 2015 and will begin with a Rapid Deployment Capability of ASF as a start-up operation (Scenario 6 AU/Chapter 7 UN), and then run a full multi-dimensional Peace Support Operation (Scenario 5 AU/Chapter 6 UN).

Detailed planning in preparation of the exercise has been done since March 2015 by officials from the AU, SADC and South Africa in South Africa.

Personnel, vehicles and equipment from the various countries will start to arrive in the Republic of South Africa between 12 and 17 October 2015. Ports-of-Entry (PoE) into Republic of South Africa as well as routes from those ports of entry that will be affected will be Upington Airport, Nakop (border post with Namibia), Ramatlabama (border post with Botswana), Beit Bridge (border post with Zimbabwe), Lebombo (border post with Mozambique), Oshoek (border post with Swaziland) and Maseru Bridge (border post with Lesotho).

Movements of all of the above will be done under escort by South African National Defence Force Military Police supported by the South African Police Services and the relevant Traffic Police of the different cities and towns that the convoys will be travelling through. These cities and towns are as follows, according to provinces:

Northern Cape Province

Upington
Olifantshoek
Kuruman
Kathu
Kimberley
Barkley-West
Postmasburg
North West Province
Mahikeng
Stella
Vryburg
Rustenburg
Koster
Lichtenburg
Biesiesvlei
Sannieshof
Delareyville
Potchefstroom
Ventersdorp
Coligny

Limpopo Province

Musina
Makhado
Polokwane

Gauteng Province

Pretoria
Brakpan

Mpumalanga Province

Komatipoort
Malelane
Nelspruit
Ngodwana
Machadodorp
Belfast
Middleburg
Emalahleni
Bronkhorstspruit
Lochiel
Chrissiesmeer
Ermelo
Bethal
Trichardt
Leandra

Free State province

Ladybrand
Thaba Nchu
Botshabelo
Bloemfontein
Petrusburg

The South African National Defence Force would like to warn members of the public about this exercise and the implications it may have on their normal or routine activities, and at the same time appeal to the public to be supportive of this noble exercise and its aims in pursuit of peace and stability in our continent. The South African National Defence Force is proud to be hosting Exercise AMANI AFRICA II.

Breakdown of Exercise

12 – 16 October: Strategic Lift and Movement of Personnel, Vehicles and Equipment to CTC

17 – 18 October: Final Preparation for Exercise

19 October: Opening Ceremony

20 – 25 October: Induction Training, Orientation Programmes and Deployment Drills

26 – 29 October: Scenario 6 (Rapid Deployment Capability)

30 – 31 October: Mission Transition from Scenario 6 to Scenario 5

1 – 4 November: Scenario 5 (Peace Support Operation)

5 November: VIP/Media Day followed by Closing Parade

6 – 9 November: Demobilisation

7 – 15 November: Movement of Personnel, Vehicles and Equipment out of the country

I thank you.