BDF Statement on 'Exercise Golfinho'

source: Republic of Botswana (21/9/09) TAUTONA TIMES no 24 of 2009
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"


C8) 3/9/09: BDF Statement on 'EXERCISE GOLFINHO'

A SADC Brigade multinational training exercise, code-named 'EXERCISE GOLFINHO' will be conducted from 9 - 26 September, 2009 at the Lohatlha Combat Training Centre in the North West Province in South Africa.

The overall objective of 'EXERCISE GOLFINHO' is to prepare the SADC Standby Force for multidimensional Peace Support Operations (PSO) in line with the African Unity Standby force roadmap.

This field training exercise will deploy a multi-dimensional force comprising military, police, prisons and rehabilitation or correctional services; and civilian personnel from the SADC states except Madagascar. Botswana will send a Battalion including personnel from the Botswana Police Service, Prisons and rehabilitation and civilians. So far, Botswana has sent an advance team of Special Forces on 23 August, 2009.

Precursor to this field training exercise was a Map Exercise (MAPEX) and a Command Post Exercise (CPX) which were conducted in Angola in February and Mozambique in April 2009, respectively.

Meanwhile, the public is informed that the contingent from the Tanzania People's Defence Forces and the Democratic Republic of Congo Defence Force consisting of military; police and civilian personnel will transit through Botswana from Ramokgwebana Border gate to Ramatlabama Border gate on 6 and 8 September, 2009.

The same contingents will transit through Botswana on their way back between 26 and 30 September, 2009. The public will be kept informed whenever the need arises.

Colonel Mogorosi Baatweng
Director, Protocol and Public Affairs
BOTSWANA DEFENCE FORCE

Tel:3662908 Cell: 72310061