POLICE Newsletter JAN-MAR 2016 First Quarter 2016 Edition
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AMISOM POLICE newsletter JAN-MAR 2016 First Quarter 2016 Edition “AMISOM’s success is not determined by the numerous activities, but by the outcome of our undertakings in augmenting peace Message from and security efforts in Somalia” Anand Pillay the Police Commissioner Welcome to this edition of the AMISOM Police e-Newsletter. This being the first edition this year it is worthy to note that during the past year, AMISOM Police Inside The Issue Component excelled in providing a diverse range of capacity building initiatives and programmes, designed to support Somali Police along the lines of police reform, Page 1 : Message from the Police Commisioner training, mentoring, operational support, and capacity enhancement. Page 2 : Bringing Police Services closer to the people Central to these initiatives was the realigning of the Page 4 : Training and mentorship AMISOM Police deployments, from the military sector boundaries to that of the Federal and the regional Page 6 - Matters Policy Member State boundaries, to provide support to the Federal Police structures and re-establish policing in Page 7 : Transforming the lives of Somali Women the recently established Federal States of Somalia, as provided for in the Provisional Constitution of Somalia. Page 8 : Operational Support AMISOM Police’s efforts in establishing the State Police Page 10 : Q & A with the SPF Commissioner in the Federal Member States of Somalia, began with the process of recruitment, selection, and vetting of Page 12 : Community Policing potential candidates for police for the Jubbaland State of Somalia and South West State of Somalia. The training of Page 13 : Leadership Training the successful candidates began last year. Two hundred and four hundred police officers have been trained in Jubbaland State and South West State respectively. Page 2 AMISOM Police Newsletter 2016 Bringing police Message from services closer to the The Police Commissioner cont’d people This process is ongoing and will culminate in well-established police institutions, on the Federal State Level, with highly skilled police officers who are able to perform their policing functions in a professional manner. AMISOM through the quick impact projects was able to either build new police stations or rehabilitate existing police stations structures in Dhobley, Cadaale, Mahaas and Jalalaqsi, thereafter, police officers were deployed to each of the stations as part of the process of deploying police officers and extending state authority to areas previously occupied by Al Shabaab. Similarly, a modern police station was constructed at the Aden Abdulle International Airport and AMISOM Police Commisioner Anand Pillay and former SPF Commisioner the late Gen. Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Ismael during the laying of the foundation for the handed over to the FGS, Deputy Minister of Internal Security and the Airport Police Station SPF leadership. The lack of policing infrastructure, mainly furnished and As part of AMISOM Police efforts to promote gender equality and equipped stations, is one of the key challenges facing the awareness of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), AMISOM Somali Police. To mitigate the challenge, AMISOM Police is has partnered with the SPF and trained police officers from Baidoa, working closely with development partners, to establish Beletweyne and Mogadishu on SGBV and Child Protection. AMISOM policing infrastructure critical for the restoration of rule of further supported SPF in establishing fully equipped gender desks law in the country. In Mogadishu, a newly constructed police at SPF and CID Headquarters, Abdul Aziz Police station, Baidoa and station at Aden Abdulle International Airport was handed over Beletweyne police stations, which are staffed by trained SPF officers, to the Somali Police on February 6, 2016, replacing the 40-year- who provide the required services to the victims of SGBV. old structure that had been in place. Building strong police institutions at both Federal and Federal Aden Abdulle International Airport is the main gateway into Member State levels that have the ability and capacity to be and out of Somalia, with hundreds of travellers using its responsive to the people of Somalia, to protect lives and property facilities daily. The new police station is thus expected to and to ensure that citizens and residents of Somalia enjoy peace, facilitate an enabling environment for crime prevention and security and stability, and capacitating the SPF ability to operate policing activities necessary to ensure the security and safety within the rule of law, are our key objectives. of the Airport. Gains evident in this newsletter would not have been possible, if it While handing over the station, the Special Representative of was not for AMISOM Partners who have supported our activities both the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for logistically and financially. AMISOM Police values their engagement Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia and will continue to count on their continued support, as the (AMISOM), Ambassador Francisco Madeira, reiterated the unit goes all-out to lay the foundational pillars for the Reform, importance of supporting the strengthening of Somali security Restructuring and Development of Police Institutions in the Federal institutions for law and order to be ensured. States of Somalia. We will continue to remain steadfast in our work, enhance our partnership with SPF and other partners, towards the realization of a peaceful and stable country, enjoying the services of trained, professional and equipped Somali Police that is accountable to the law, to the government and to the people of Somalia. Thank you, Anand Pillay A band performs outside the newly built Airport Police Station during its official opening AMISOM Police Newsletter Page 3 2016 “Like other airports across the world, this Airport presents a “Having a professional policing capability at the Airport will potential target for terrorists. This Airport Police Station is create the feeling of safety and security for the locals and therefore expected to provide a wide range of law enforcement visitors entering Somalia,” the Police Commissioner said. duties, including patrols, investigations, control and response Somali Police Force Commissioner, Maj. General Mohamed to airport emergencies amongst others,” Ambassador Madeira Sheikh Hassan Hamud, thanked AMISOM for its continuous noted. support, noting that the new police station will greatly benefit the Somali people. The fully furnished station was handed over to the Deputy Minister of Internal Security, Abdi Nasri Mohamed Ali, at a ceremony attended by the AMISOM Police Commissioner, Anand Pillay, and his Somali counterpart, Maj. General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud, together with other senior AMISOM, Somali police and military officers. AMISOM Police Commissioner, Anand Pillay, described the handover ceremony as a historic event that demonstrates a collective effort and resolve towards restoration of peace and AU Special Representative for Somalia Amb. Francisco Madeira and Somali Deputy Minister of Internal Security Mr. Abdinasir Mohamed Ali cutting tape during the stability in Somalia. opening of the Airport Police Station in Mogadishu. New policing Infrastructure for Internal Security of the Interim Jubba Administration, General Dhobley Mohamed Darwish, thanked AMISOM for the enduring commitment and partnership to the restoration of peace in Somalia. In Dhobley, Lower Jubba Region, AMISOM Police marked yet The AMISOM Police Commissioner Anand Pillay in a speech read another milestone in strengthening the Somali Police by handing on his behalf by AIG Amadu Mannah thanked the Interim Juba over a newly refurbished police station on February 1, 2016. The Administration for demonstrating political will in law enforcement renovation was part of the Quick Impact Projects (QIPS) undertaken that complies with and adheres to internationally accepted by AMISOM, aimed at beefing security in rural areas. principles of democratic policing. Speaking during the handover of the station, the Minister of Policing enhanced in Hiiraan region prioritize human resource and security infrastructure, adding that Somali Police Force was currently focusing on training as well as providing the necessary equipment needed to maintain The communities in Jalalaqsi and Mahas districts, in Hiiraan law and order. region, now have access to policing services, following the construction of a new police station in the former and “As you are aware this is part of the stabilization plan and is not refurbishment of another in the latter. The stations were an easy task,” noted the Somali Police Commissioner, who also handed over to the communities in March 2016. called for more assistance. These are expected to not only enhance the safety and security in the region, but also to restore the rule of law. The construction is part of the ongoing effort by AMISOM to restore governance in areas recovered from Al Shabaab. Speaking at the handover of the station in Mahas, AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo, said the handing over of the two police stations was part of AMISOM’s efforts of not only strengthening policing but also making working conditions for officers suitable. As part of the program, 10 police officers from Mogadishu were also deployed to the station to help in the stabilization process. In Jalalaqsi, Somali Police Force Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Mohamed Sheikh Hamud, observed that given the magnitude Hiiraan Police Commander,