Officers to graduate in training course on terrorism

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Thursday February 25, 2010 00:00

The training course conducted under the Law Enforcement Executive Development Program (LEED) covered investigations on terrorism, narcotics, immigration, firearms and other policing techniques.

Ten officers are from Botswana, seven from Ghana, six from South Africa and 13 from Zambia. The course also looked at community policing issues.

ILEA was established in 2000 by the United States and Botswana governments, in a bilateral agreement based on their mutual interest to combat transnational crime. 

US embassy spokesperson Laona Segaetsho said since training began in 2001, ILEA has trained approximately 500 participants annually. The participants included law enforcement officers from over 29 sub-Saharan African countries. 

He explained that instructors from over 20 different law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organisations 'come from the US and other African countries to ensure that participants gain a fresh perspective on combating crime in their home countries and cooperate with counterparts across the region,' said Segaetsho.

ILEA's objectives range from supporting institution building in the field of criminal justice in Africa with an emphasis on rule of law, democratisation, to building of law enforcement capacity. 

'ILEA also supports the strengthening of cooperation among the law enforcement communities of Botswana, the United States and other African countries, he added. Among the dignitaries, US Ambassador to Botswana Stephen Nolan and some Botswana Police Service senior officials are scheduled to deliver remarks at the event.