AMISOM police chief among victims of Ethiopian air crash

Acting Amisom Police Commissioner Christine Alalo was among those who perished in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airline that crashed Sunday, AMISOM and Uganda Police Headquarters have confirmed.

AMISOM head Francisco Madeira in a statement Monday mourned the loss of the high ranking police officer and also hailed her for dedicated service and contribution towards the AMISOM police component.

“Police Commissioner Alalo will be remembered for her dedication, commitment and professionalism with which she led the African Union Police component in Somalia since 2015 and for the very positive results she was able to obtain in that capacity,” said Madeira.

“The entire AMISOM family is with the people and the government of Uganda, with Emmanuel and Alvin, sons of our beloved C.P Christine Alalo, in this moment of sorrow and despondency. May her soul rest in peace,” Ambassador Madeira said.

The Uganda Police Force paid tribute to the deceased officer. “She (Alalo) died while on duty and ably carried the image of the force and our country Uganda to greater heights and will be sadly missed.”

Before joining AMISOM, Alalo worked with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) as a Police Advisor in Juba Sector for 2 years, from 2007-2009.

Previously, she headed the Department of Child and Family Protection Unit, which is responsible for handling cases of child abuse and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), in the Uganda Police Force. Her experience in policing spanned over 15 years.

Commissioner Alalo was travelling from Italy via Ethiopia. Her tour of duty in AMISOM was expected to end in June according to the Uganda Police headquarters.