AMISOM trains Somali Police Force to mitigate radicalisation

Officers from the Somali Police Force (SPF), pose for a group photograph during a workshop on Community Policing and De-radicalization organised by the police components of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), held at General Kahiye Police Training Academy in Mogadishu, Somalia

Lt. Col. Hassan Alasow, Director of Training and Planning of the Somali Police Force (SPF), makes the closing remarks during a workshop course on Community Policing and Deradicalisation organised by the police components of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), held at General Kahiye Police Training Academy in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Mogadishu - On 27 July, at least 20 Somali Police Force (SPF) officers concluded training in community policing and de-radicalisaiton at the General Kaahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu.

At least 18 officers drawn from 17 police stations across Mogadishu attended the training.that was conducted by AMISOM. The weeklong course ended with a call to the officers to cooperate with the community to detect and eliminate extremism.

The training, funded by the Japanese government through the African Union, is to build the capacity of the SPF through continuous mentoring and reform initiatives, in line with AMISOM’s transition plan and commitment to improve peace and security in Somalia.

SPF’s director of training and planning, Brigadier Hassan Alasow, said the training was important in equipping Somali police officers with critical policing skills meant to quickly detect and arrest insurgents and radical extremists.

“I wish to thank AMISOM for this training, for imparting skills on how to detect and handle those radicalised by extremists and how to manage the reintegration of some of them into society,” said Alasow.

AMISOM Police Commander in Charge of Training and Planning, Senior Superintendent of Police Francis Ndiema, said the training was important to create awareness within the SPF of the dangers of radicalisation and extremism.

“This course is important because it is intended to equip participants with the knowledge and skills in community servicing, but you can only achieve that through effective community policing. The intention is to fight radicalisation and extremism,” Ndeima said.