UN and AU-backed training for Somalia recruits commence
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
March 31, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) –The United Nations and Africa Union on Tuesday began the long-awaited training of 200 officers of the Somali Police Force in Jubaland.
Officials said the training is critical to build the capacity of the Somali police force in order to help them restore stability, security and maintain rule and order in the country.
The training is being conducted by AMISOM Police in partnership with the Somali Police Force and the regional Interim Jubbaland Administration (IJA). It is supported by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the British aid arm (DFID).
“We are happy with the stage we are at today compared to where we started. We welcome AMISOM commanders and UNPOS officials who have all played an important role in commissioning this training center where 200 Jubbaland police recruits have begun training” said IJA Minister of Internal Security, Gen. Mohamed Farah Warsame.
“I am hoping a second batch will follow after the passing out of this first batch. And a third batch will also follow” Warsame added.
According to the statement, the new policing model contains federal and state-level components, which will be under the respective federal and state-level ministries of internal security.
The 200 Somali police recruits are the first batch of the 600 police officers selected for training. Currently AMISOM doesn’t have a permanent Police Training Centre, but said it is in the process of sourcing for funds to construct a permanent structure.
The AMISOM Police Commissioner Anand Pillay pledged continuous support from AMISOM Police during the training program.
“We are looking forward to the 200 police officers training over the next three months. Thereafter the training will be continued by our police officers and we will support them by providing the necessary mentoring so that they can become efficient and effective police officers in the region” said Pillay
In the past AMISOM has given a number of trainings to Somali police officers to boost their skills in order to perform their functions effectively.
After completing their training, the police officers were deployed in various parts of the country to protect the Somali people.
AMISOM says it will continue to train and support the Somali Police Force until there is a complete police institution where there are basic structures of command, control, supervision and accountability.
AMISOM has previously deployed skilled officers to support the Somali police force establish police institutions in the regional states.
(ST)