Somali soldiers undergo training to enhance their capacity to secure 2016 polls

Somali police in Mogadishu have been undergoing training to enhance their capacity to secure the 2016 electoral process.

The first batch of officers, drawn from various police stations in Somali capital have commenced the training organized by AMISOM Police.

The officers will be taught the importance of elections and election security, voting systems, electoral justice and the role of police and security forces before, during and after elections. Others are election security targets, threat assessment and security measures to counter identified threats, causes and the prevention of electoral violence, and screening and searches among others.

The training which opened Monday, by the SPF Police Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud, and the AMISOM Police Training Coordinator, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Francis Ayitey Aryee was funded by the Japanese government.

Speaking at the function,  Hamud said that the police will play a lead role in safeguarding the electoral process and urged the officers to take the training seriously, to help deter bad elements from frustrating the process.

“What we need from you is to take the lead role in the training and share the same knowledge with your colleagues. In this training you will learn how to secure the upcoming elections, and when you return to your stations teach others who did not get the opportunity to undertake this training,” he said.

ACP Aryee underscored that it is the role of the police to secure the elections, adding that like in any other country, internal security is the responsibility of the police.

He said it is crucial for Somali police officers to improve their skills and knowledge on securing elections.

“The successful conduct of general elections will constitute a big step forward in the peace process and progress of Somalia towards the attainment of normalcy, development and stability,” he observed.

The training is part of a grand programme being conducted by AMISOM Police and is aimed at educating and preparing the police for the forthcoming electoral process.