Mogadishu–The Police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has acquired a fleet of armoured vehicles, to boost its operations in providing election security.
The equipment includes five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and six armoured Toyota Land cruisers, acquired with the support of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The vehicles will mainly support the Formed Police Units (FPU), which predominantly provide operational support to the Somali Police Force (SPF).
The Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo, on Thursday, inspected and handed over the fleet to AMISOM Police Commissioner, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Augustine Magnus Kailie.
Elections have commenced in Somalia, with some of the Federal Member States already conducting elections for the Upper House, part of the wider parliamentary and presidential elections, making the acquisition of the fleet by AMISOM Police, timely and more significant.
The SPF will take the lead in securing the elections, with AMISOM police playing a supporting role and also expected to work closely with the SPF to provide security at venues and to election officials during the national elections to ensure that the process is safe and secure.
