Baidoa, 20 June 2021 – The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police component has concluded six days training to enhance the skills of the Southwest State Police personnel in community policing to prevent crime and counter violent extremism.
The training, a collaboration with the Southwest State Administration targeted 25 Southwest State police officers selected from police stations across the state.
The AMISOM Police component has the mandate to train, mentor and advise the Somali Police Force (SPF) and support stabilisation efforts under the Somali-led Transition Plan.
While closing the training on Friday, the Bay Region Police Commander, Col. Amin Mohamed Osman, thanked AMISOM for supporting the capacity building efforts of the Somali Police Force. He urged the trainees to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to protect lives and property.
“The trainees have gained knowledge, and we hope they will apply the skills while performing their duties,” said Col. Osman.
The AMISOM Police Lead Trainer in the Southwest State, Inspector Ezekiel Njagi, said the training was part of ongoing capacity-building support to ensure Somali Security Forces build relations with the community.
“These officers have acquired skills in prevention and countering violent extremism through community policing. We are building a community-based policing strategy to enable the Somali Police Force to cooperate with the community to maintain safety and security,” said Inspector Njagi.
The AMISOM Police coordinating officer in the Southwest State, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sylvester Kabaso, said the trainees were better resourced to perform policing duties.
“We also expect the community to cooperate with the Somali Police Force as they discharge their duties,” said SSP Kabaso.
A trainee police officer, Fardowsa Aden Mohamed, said that the training was useful.
“We had been diligently performing our duties, without understanding some of the basic principles of community policing, this training has been very insightful,” said Aden.
