AU to train Somali troops before Amisom pull out in 2018

African Union said on Monday  it plans to train Somali troops as to allow Somalis to take charge of their country before AU withdraws its troops from Somalia by 2018.

“We are planning to train and equip the Somali forces before pulling out from the country,” Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, said in a press conference during the closing of the 27th AU summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

Chergui said that AU is set to start withdrawing its standby force from Somali in 2018.

He said that the AU is also helping Somalia with its Presidential and parliamentary elections that are due later in the year.

“We need a peaceful Somalia and respect for human rights for all citizens,” Chergui said.

Chergui noted that the Heads of States set up a special fund to help combat terrorism in the continent.

The fund will be funded by AU governments, the international community, and other partners and will take effect once the modeling governing it is unveiled.”This fund will help African governments respond with speed in taming an upsurge of terrorism activities that is blamed for massive deaths of people,” he added.

AMISOM troops came to Somalia 2007 after the United Nations Security Council authorised the African Union to deploy a peacekeeping mission.

AU troops with the help of Somali National Army (SNA) dislodged Al-Shabaab fighters from Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu.