AMISOM trains civil protection police in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia – A contingent of Somali police officers has been trained in established guidelines that protect civilians in line with their tasks, as the AMISOM team strives to restore order and stability in the Horn of Africa.
The exercise allowed at least 25 police officers, mainly from the Sierra Leone police unit and the FPU, to benefit from the three-day training in Kismayo, the regional administrative capital of the state of Jubaland, Somalia.
Gloria Jaase, AMISOM Protection Officer, said the training was to build police officers’ knowledge and skills on the need to protect civilians in peacekeeping operations.
“This training aims to remind our commanders of their obligations to protect civilians while conducting operations in Somalia,” she said.
It covered aspects of international human rights frameworks relating to the rights of women and children, the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.
Kahbila Mbuton, AMISOM Human Rights Officer, said: “The training ensures that FPUs can protect civilians in line with the AMISOM mandate, and in accordance with human rights.”
AMISOM Police Coordinator for the State of Jubbaland, CP Stephen Yeje, said that the trainees had gained valuable understanding for performing their roles effectively.
“The workshop is a reminder of our duty as peacekeepers to protect vulnerable people, including women, children and the disabled. Against this background, the education examined human rights with an emphasis on women’s and children’s rights. We have gained knowledge about the roles we can play as Formed Police to ensure the protection of civilians, says CP Yeje.
The deputy commander of Sierra Leone formed the police unit, ASP Agnes Murray, said that the knowledge would guide the officers in carrying out their duties.
“The training guides us on our responsibility to respect the rights of people we protect. We work in cooperation with civilians and the Somali police to ensure peace, says ASP Murray.
Jaase said that the results of the training would benefit the trainees and the community they serve. “This will benefit civilians because the mandate of AMISOM as a peacekeeping operation includes the need to protect civilians,” Jaase said.
By the end of December, most Somali peacekeepers would have left the full implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP], which will see more troops return to their countries. Security responsibility will be transferred to Somalia’s national army [SNA].
There are close to 22,000 peacekeepers in Somalia and most have been in the country for over a decade. AMISOM has contributed to the fight against Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group that controls large parts of central and southern Somalia in the countryside.
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