Training School for Somali Police Force Opens in Kismayo

A new training school for the Somali Police Force was yesterday launched in Kismayo, Somalia. The training facility constructed with support from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was opened by the Somali Police Commissioner Major General Mohamed Sheikh Mohamud.

The facility is expected to serve as a base for police training in the region, as part of the on-going capacity building for the SPF both in Mogadishu and in the regional administrations.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Somali Police Commissioner Maj Gen Mohamed Sheikh Hamud said, “Today we thank the AMISOM Police, and the UNSOM Police for the support. This is a great day for us. We also thank the UK government for their continuous support of this training school and we would like to see more support to the Jubbaland Police Force. We are also grateful to AMISOM Police for conducting the vetting exercise for the fresh recruits”.

AMISOM Police Ag. Reforms Coordinator Mr. Eric Winful noted that the training school will play a big role in enabling institutionalisation of a professional Police Force for the IJA.

“We have come here to witness the opening ceremony of the training school for the IJA. It is our mandate to support Somalia in its efforts to get peace in its land. We are training the new police recruits, we vetted them about a month ago and very soon we will commence the training of the recruits,” said Mr. Eric Widful.

General Mohamed Warsame Darwish, Jubbaland Interior and Security Minister thanked the Somali Police Commissioner visiting the Administration and appealed for more support towards ensuring a professional force for the region.