Dallaire Institute Delegation Visits EASF Headquarters in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, 18 June 2025–The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) on Wednesday hosted a high-level delegation from the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security – African Centre of Excellence, at its headquarters in Addis Ababa. The visit marked a significant step toward strengthening collaboration in child protection within peace support operations across the Eastern Africa region.

The delegation was led by Major General (Rtd) Ferdinand Safari, Director of the Dallaire Institute African Centre of Excellence. He was accompanied by senior officials including Ms. Madeline Zutt, Policy and Advocacy Manager; Ms. Francisca Mujawase, Deputy Director for Advocacy and Partnerships; Mr. John Kelei, Country Representative – South Sudan; and Ms. Divine Isimbi, Executive Assistant and Communications Lead.

During the visit, both teams exchanged presentations outlining their respective mandates and areas of work. The EASF presentation highlighted the organization’s commitment to regional peace and security and its role in multidimensional peace support operations.

Leading the EASF team, Col. Abdelrahim A.A. Hamad, Acting Chief of Staff and Commandant of the EASF Logistics Training Center, expressed appreciation for the visit and affirmed EASF’s readiness to collaborate on tailored training and capacity-building programs.

The Dallaire Institute team shared insights into their work on preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, building capacity for security actors, and advancing child-focused policy frameworks.

Maj Gen (Rtd) Safari emphasized the importance of partnership between regional peace mechanisms and specialized institutions.

“Together, we can strengthen the protection of children in conflict zones through integrated, sustainable approaches,” he said.

The visit concluded with a shared commitment to future cooperation on child protection in peace operations.