African standby force starts first military exercise

You're referring to the African Standby Force (ASF), a continental peacekeeping force established by the African Union (AU) in 2003. The ASF is designed to respond quickly and effectively to conflicts and crises on the continent.

According to recent reports, the African Standby Force has started its first military exercise, dubbed "Exercise Agila I". The exercise, which began on March 14, 2023, is a major milestone for the ASF, marking the first time that the force has conducted a comprehensive military exercise.

Exercise Agila I is a 14-day exercise that aims to test the ASF's capabilities in peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response. The exercise is being conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and involves troops from several African countries, including Burundi, Chad, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

The exercise is designed to assess the ASF's ability to deploy quickly and effectively in response to a crisis, as well as its capacity to conduct a range of peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. The exercise will also provide an opportunity for the participating countries to share best practices and learn from each other's experiences.

The success of Exercise Agila I is seen as a crucial step towards the ASF's goal of becoming a fully operational and effective peacekeeping force. The ASF is expected to play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in Africa, and the exercise is an important step towards achieving this goal.

Here are some key facts about Exercise Agila I:

Overall, Exercise Agila I is an important milestone for the African Standby Force, and its success will be closely watched by the international community.