US hail MDF on peace-keeping
By Rebecca Chimjeka:
The United States Ambassador to Malawi Virginia Palmer has hailed the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) for its cordial treatment of civilians when on peace-keeping errands.
Palmer was speaking at the opening of the Sixth Accountability Colloquium where operational commanders interact with their legal advisers and exchange best practices to enhance their relationships.
This is in a quest to promote military justice and accomplish missions in operations.
“In years of international peace-keeping operations, the record of the Malawi Defence Force is spotless. This is a credit to their strict adherence to the rules of armed conflict, but also to their rigorous pre-deployment training, including training in the legal framework of peace-keeping,” Parmer said.
MDF Commander, Griffin Spoon-Phiri, said timely legal advice was vital when it comes to planning and conducting operations.
Spoon-Phiri said man- management skills were also key to sustaining MDF’s record.
“To strike an effective balance between command powers and legal circumscription, without undermining the rule of law, we are going to need, as never before, military lawyers with superb skills and ingenuity to assist us in navigating the veritable minefield created by developments in warfare,” Spoon-Phiri said
The theme of the colloquium is ‘Confronting Current and Future Military Operations in Africa’.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
