AMISOM police say they will help Somali forces to secure Somali elections

The Uganda police contingent serving under AMISOM said they would help Somali security forces secure the forthcoming elections scheduled before year end.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo, said Uganda security forces had a duty to help Somalia hold a successful electoral process that will culminate in the election of a new president on October 30, this year.

Ms Alalo made the remarks, yesterday, at the closure of an induction course for more than 100 Formed Police Unit (FPU) officers, serving in the police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“These elections are not going to be like the one in your country where everyone votes. It is a different kind of election that will take place here but we are expected to ensure that it is done very well,” the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner said.

Alalo Urged to the Ugandan contingent to work closely with the Somali Police Force and police contingents from other countries to help stabilize the country.

She noted that one of the mandates of AMISOM is to build the capacity of the Somali Police Force,

Alalo challenged the officers to ensure the objective is achieved.

“We are at a stage where we must ensure that we build the Somali Police Force to a level that it should be able to take over the internal security of the country,” she observed.

The contingent, the fifth from Uganda to serve on the Mission, arrived in Somalia early this month on a one-year tour of duty, to offer operational support to the Somali Police Force (SPF).

The FPU is tasked, among others, to carry out public order management, provide operational support to the Somali Police Force and offer protection to AMISOM, UN and African Union staff.