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African Union Mission for Somalia P.O. Box 20182- 00200; Tel: (+254-20) 72167201; Fax: +254 20 7216275, Nairobi, Kenya PRESS RELEASE (For immediate release) Somali Police Commissioner welcomes the first AMISOM Formed Police Unit in Mogadishu

Mogadishu- August 8th, 2012: The Somali Police Commissioner, General Sharif Shekuna Maye has formally welcomed Formed Police Officers from Uganda who have been deployed in Mogadishu to serve under the police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Speaking during a parade by the AMISOM Formed Police Unit in Mogadishu, General Sharif Shekuna Maye expressed his appreciation to the African Union and the government of Uganda for the continued commitment to supporting Somalia in its endeavor to ensure sustainable peace and security in the country. He informed the formed police officers that Somalis are expecting a lot from them.

He said; “The main expectation of the Somali community is the securing of every corner where remnants of Al-Shabaab terrorist group might be hiding. The community is expecting you to help bring back law and order in the country.”

The AMISOM Police Commissioner, Dr. Charles Makono said another group of formed police officers from Nigeria is expected in Mogadishu before the end of the year to join their colleagues from Uganda.

“The major task of the Formed Police Unit will be to assist the Somali Police Force in consolidating the security of Mogadishu. This will be done through public order patrols in coordination with the Somali Police Force.” Said Dr. Makono.

The deployment of officers from Uganda becomes the first deployment by the African Union of a Formed Police Unit since the formation of the Organization of the African Unit in 1963 and later the African Union in 2002.

------For more information, please Contact; Eloi Yao and Colonel Ali Houmed, Spokespersons, Cell phone: (Nairobi) +254702155126 E‐mail: [email protected]