Engility to train African nations for UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

Engility has been awarded a contract to train military battalions from African nations for their participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Mali.

The $10.2m contract, awarded under the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) programme operated by the US Department of State, Africa Bureau, involves training the battalions from Benin, Senegal and Niger.

Representing a new work for Engility, the latest two-year ACOTA contract involves a base performance period and a one-year option.

The programme involves provision of 12-week courses of intensive training for soldiers and battalion leaders.

Furthermore, the company is responsible to ship and offer the deployed units with non-lethal military equipment, which include helmets, vests, uniforms and boots.

Engility president and CEO Tony Smeraglinolo said: "We are extremely pleased to win this contract and very much appreciate the confidence our Department of State customers have placed in us.

"This award reflects our company’s commitment to Africa and is a tribute to the outstanding work of our professionals who are supporting the UN mission to train and equip the militaries of African nations taking part in the peacekeeping programme in Mali."