Brig. General Sebsibe Duba is the commandant of the Ethiopian International Peace Support Training Institute. A highly-decorated 29-year veteran of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Brig. General Sebsibe most recently served as Chief Training Officer at AMISOM Force Headquarters. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Military Sciences from the Ethiopian Defense Command Studies and Staff College and served as Head of the Security and Strategy studies department at the Ethiopian Defense Command. General Sebsibe obtained his Master of Arts in Managing Peace and Security in Africa from Addis Ababa University and holds a post-graduate Advanced Diploma in Defense and Strategic Studies from the National Defense University (NDU) of China.

Ethiopia has deployed over 150,000 personnel for peace operations, both under Chapters 6 and 7 of the UN Charter.

Ethiopia has a long and illustrious history of international peacekeeping support. As a founding member of both the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU), the nation’s participation in UN-authorized operations dates back to 1951; since then, Ethiopia has deployed over 150,000 personnel for peace operations, both under Chapters 6 and 7 of the UN Charter. Its deployments range from infantry units, tactical and utility, helicopter units, motorized battalions, and mechanized battalions, to hospital and well drilling units.

Established under the Peace Keeping Center (PKC) in 2010, the IPSTI is dedicated to training security sector leaders both from Ethiopia and other African countries. The IPSTI provides over 25 courses on various thematic and functional areas tailored for both national and international participants, i.e. military, police, and civilian students. The institute’s coursework is structured around conflict prevention, post-conflict recovery, and other cross-cutting disciplines. IPSTI is lauded for its individualized attention to participants and discussion-based learning. The Institute’s campus includes training and office facilities, a canteen, accommodations, and a theatre facility. According to the Commandant of the Institute, IPSTI aims to become a premier center of excellence in peace support training, education, and research in Africa.

IPSTI campus, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Student Residence on campus, Addis Ababa.

Commandant Brig. Gen. Sebsibe adds that the Institute aims to become a frontier in peacekeeping pre-deployment training, particularly on UN mandates and compliance, human rights, and gender equality support in Africa.

Commandant Brig. Gen. Sebsibe adds that the Institute aims to become a frontier in peacekeeping pre-deployment training, particularly on UN mandates and compliance, human rights, and gender equality support in Africa. Secondly, the IPSTI offers specialized foreign language training, as well as testing, in preparation for international deployments. The IPSTI offers a robust English and French language training program and is in the process of crafting additional language training and soft-skills programs. Third, IPSTI has a highly specialized Peace and Conflict Management graduate program which comprises accomplished military leaders, as well as enrollees, from around the African continent. Participants are often sponsored by their respective governments to complete the coursework. Lastly, the institute conducts various research on peace support operations and conflicts to promote regional peace.

According to the commandant of the school, regional peace, particularly in a crucial geo-strategic location like the Horn, is a collaborative effort that requires the attention and participation of various stakeholders. Hence, the IPSTI has a range of core and institutional partners ranging from nations like Germany, Japan, and the UK to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the African Union (AU). Through the support of various national and international partners, the IPSTI is able to enhance the capacity of its regional standby forces and further expand its training modules into academic programs.

IPSTI training Facility, Near Kebena, Addis Ababa.