The SADC Standby Force PLANELM conducted a Command, Control, Communication and Information Systems (C3IS) Workshop at Grand Palm Hotel in Gaborone, Botswana from 29th to 30th March 2017.
The objective of the Workshop was to finalize the SADC Standby Force C3IS Concept. The workshop was opened by Brig. M. Mukokomani (Chief of Staff- SADC Standby Force- Planning Element) on behalf of the SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena L. Tax. In his remarks, he welcomed all MS on behalf of the SADC Executive Secretary, and encouraged delegates to come up with tangible solutions to the SADC Standby Force Communication Challenges that will be submitted to the Defence and Security Chiefs for adoption.
The Workshop adopted the conceptual framework encompassing the Military, Police and Civilian components and was consolidated to form a SADC Communication platform that would provide the basis for a multidimensional SADC Standby Force C3IS concept. It also recommended that: (1) A Joint Operation Centre (JOC) be established with the requisite communications equipment and multidimensional staff compliment to be presented to the defence and Security chiefs; (2) A SADC regional communication Command Post exercise (CPX) be conducted during 2018 to synchronize and harmonize procedures along the three layers of communication, and that whilst the SADC C3IS system is being put in place, an interim measure to be established wherein member states that have pledged Force Headquarters’ and Command elements take the lead in this matter.
The Workshop further recommended that; the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions- Military Signals Unit Manual, the African Union C4I (Africa Endeavour) handbook, and the Africa Union (Africa Endeavour) Cyber Security Policy, be recommended for adoption as a baseline for finalizing the SADC Standby Force (SSF) SOP’s and Cyber Security Policy.
Eleven (11) Member States representing the Military, police and Civilian components from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the Workshop.
