REVIEW www.amisom-au.org
Issue 26 | January – March 2019
The Face of
Transition AMISO M M AGAZ I N E
1
Message from
the SRCC
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira
Our
strategy envisages a full handover of security responsibility to the Somali Security Forces (SSF) beyond 2021, but will depend on the readiness and capability of SSF.” — Ambassador Madeira 2
A M ISO M MAG AZ I NE
2
With the troops’ cutback by another one-thousand in February 2019, as per the requirement of the UN Security Council Resolution 2431 (2018), there’s evidently a gradual shift of security responsibilities to Somali Security Forces. There is now growing emphasis on policing, as AMISOM Police expands its presence in most regions across south central Somalia – most recently, the deployment of Individual Police Officers to Dhobley in Lower Jubba region, where we are confident they will effectively mentor and train police officers in Jubbaland State. AMISOM takes seriously the reform and restructuring of the Somali Police Force, that seeks to re-establish and consolidate policing and rule of law, and develop institutional capacity. As activities shift to stabilization, AMISOM has also expanded its civilian presence in the sectors. The civilians play a critical role in progressing the Mission’s political and stabilization role in all sectors; including support to federalization and elections. Even as we continue to implement our mandate, we remain committed to fulfilling our strategic objectives, which include significantly degrading Al-Shabaab and other Armed Opposition Groups, leading to a stable, federal, sovereign and a united Somalia, whose citizens enjoy access to economic opportunities, justice and rule of law, with Somali institutions assuming full responsibility. This is our envisaged end-state for Somalia. Our drawdown and exit strategy is based on a progressive implementation of the concept of operations (CONOPS) in line with the Transition Plan, focusing on degrading Al-Shabaab within the context of a comprehensive approach to security.” Our strategy envisages a full handover of security responsibility to the Somali Security Forces (SSF) beyond 2021, but will depend on the readiness and capability of SSF. To this end, there is need for enhanced support to SSF to strengthen their capacity progressively, to take over national security responsibilities. Key achievements in the first quarter, include the hand over of Jaale Siyad Military Academy to the Federal Government in March 2019, to enable rehabilitation and full use of the facilities by the Somali security forces. As we look forward to the implementation of the second phase of the Somali Transition Plan, in July 2019, AMISOM is readying itself to scale up the fight against Al-Shabaab and secure Main Supply Routes; with the Somali National Army in the lead. On a tragic note, AMISOM lost one of its most valued principals, the late CP Christine Alalo, who died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10. CP Alalo, who was the Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner was a consummate professional with a depth in policing that was immensely valuable to the Mission. We miss her presence in the Mission. May her soul Rest in Peace. Enjoy your reading!
Table of
2 4 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 16 17 18
20 21 27 28
29 30
31 32 33 34 35
|
CONTENTS
Message from the SRCC In The News Change of Guard Troops’ Drawdown Joint Military Operations Liberation of Saabid
training in Jowhar, the state’s capital. law and order and enhance the rule of law in the state, were recruited in November 2018. Photo/AMISOM
Security Actors & Intelligence Sharing Operational Readiness Assessment Report AMISOM Budget Financing Mission Implementation Plan Joint AU-UN Team Examines Transition Jaalle Siyad Academy Handed Over to Somali Government Mitigating Conflict Related Sexual Violence Focus on Our Troops
Photography: AU-UN IST Newsroom | thenewsroom@auunist.org Email: amisommediacentre@gmail.com P.O. Box 20182 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Phone: +254 202 713 755 /56 /58 Fax: +254 202 713 766 Publisher: AMISOM Public Information Unit
Female Peacekeepers Seek Gender Parity Somali Security Forces train on International
amisom.somalia
Humanitarian Law AU Police Expands its Presence to Dhobley
amisomsomalia
Ghana to Send Additional Police Personnel to Somalia
issuu.com/amisom
HirShabelle’s Pioneer Police Officers Digital Integration of Personnel Data AMISOM Rebuilds Bombed School Injured on The Frontline In Memory of Commissioner Christine Alalo
amisom.somalia
vimeo.com/auunistnews
amisomsomalia
www.amisom-au.org AMISOM MAGAZINE
3
2019
IN THE
NEWS
JANUARY
16
E
U Military and Conduct Capability Director Lt. Gen. Esa Pulkkinen, pays a courtesy call on AMISOM leadership; describes the AU Mission in Somalia as an indispensable peace support operation, without which the Horn of Africa country may not function optimally.
2019 JANUARY
27
P
untland President H.E Said Abdullahi Deni is inaugurated in a ceremony attended by tens of leaders including Somalia’s President. The AU Special Representative for Somalia, Francisco Caetano Madeira, lauded the maturity with which the federal state held its presidential election. President Deni won the January 8 presidential vote, held in Puntland’s administrative capital Garowe.
2019
JANUARY
31
T 4
he Force Commander Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn from Ethiopia receiving the flag as a symbol of authority from SRCC
A M ISO M MAG AZ I NE
2019
FEBRUARY
26
A
MISOM hands over Operational Readiness Assessment Report to the Federal Government of Somalia. The reports sought to assess the effectiveness of the Somali security forces.
2019
FEBRUARY
28
A
MISOM hands over to the Federal Government of Somalia, Jaalle Siyad Military Academy, which it had occupied for more than a decade.
2019
MARCH
15
A
n AU-UN delegation makes weeklong assessment tour of Somalia, after evaluating progress made by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in the implementation of specified tasks stipulated in the Somalia Transition Plan.
2019
MARCH
25
A
n intelligence and information sharing conference aimed at enhancing collaboration among various security actors in Somalia was held in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The conference, the fifth of its kind to be held in the country, was organized by AMISOM, with the support of the United Kingdom Mission Support Team (UK MST). The forum discussed the dynamics in intelligence gathering and how it impacts on Somalia’s security.
A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
5
2019
MARCH
26
A
detachment of nine Individual Police Officers (IPOs) from AMISOM are deployed in Dhobley in the Lower Jubba region, for the first time, to embark on capacity building of the local police force. The AU police officers who are specialists in different fields, will work alongside Jubbaland State Police Force, to train local police and expand their presence in the Lower Jubba region.
2019
APRIL
5
O
fficials of UNMAS, AMISOM and UNSOS attend the AMISOM Budget meeting in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. The meeting reviewed the AMISOM budget for 2018 and discussed the mission's budgetary requirements for 2020
2019
APRIL
6
6
A MI S O M MAG AZ INE
A
MISOM launches roads rehabilitation project in Dhobley town, in Somalia’s Lower Jubba region. The major facelift by the Kenya Defence Forces operating under AMISOM was aimed at easing movement of persons and goods, and is being undertaken as part of the civil-military cooperation between AMISOM and the local administration.
Change of Guard
O
n January 31, Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn from Ethiopia, assumed Commander. instruments of power between Gen. Tigabu and the outgoing Force Commander Lt. Gen. Jim Beesigye Owoyesigire was presided over by Francisco Caetano Madeira, the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for Somalia (SRCC), who is also the Head of AMISOM. Gen. Tigabu has 34-years experience in
New Force Commander takes over at the helm of AMISOM military the military and has served the Ethiopia National Defence Forces (ENDF) in several capacities, including as Division, Brigade, Battalion and Company Commander. Prior to his appointment, he served as a member of the Defence Council and Head of Defence Logistics Main Department, where he was instrumental in planning, delivery, generation and integration of the Defence Capability, among others. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration, a degree in Leadership and Military Science and a Diploma in Law.
Lt. Gen. Jim Beesigye Owoyesigire (right), the outgoing AMISOM Force Commander hands over documents to Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn (left), the incoming AMISOM Force Commander.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, and AMISOM leadership meet Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn, the new Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia at the AMISOM Mission Headquarters in Mogadishu.
AMISO M M AGAZ IN E
7
Troops Drawdown
A
MISOM successfully reduced its troop numbers by two-thousand uniformed personnel by the end of March 2019, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2431(2018), which authorizes the mission, to reduce the number of troops in the country by one-thousand by 28 February 2019. Another one-thousand troops left the country in December 2017. One-thousand troops from Burundi left in the second schedule. The troops were based in Somalia’s youngest federal state of HirShabelle and occupied critical positions that buffered local populations from AlShabaab attacks. In the countdown to their withdrawal, HirShabelle President, Mohamed Abdi Waare held crucial consultations with AMISOM leadership, on troops’ reorganization, to
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo, the Deputy SRCC, and other senior AMISOM officials in a meeting with Mohamed Abdi Waare, the President of Hirshabelle State.
ensure continued safety of populations. “The transition plan is finally becoming a reality and there are painful decisions that have to be taken,” said President Waare after talks with AMISOM. “We have been discussing with President Waare on
how we can implement the Transition Plan in a manner that still ensures security in his state,” disclosed Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the AU Special Representative for Somalia. Burundi troops have their main base in Jowhar, the administrative capital
of HirShabelle State and in several Forward Operating Bases in middle Shabelle region. HirShabelle President had expressed concern, that if hurriedly implemented, the troops’ drawdown would leave his State vulnerable to attacks from militant group Al-Shabaab.
Reconstitution of Forward Operating Bases
I
n January, AMISOM announced it had embarked on an exercise to reconstitute its Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), to enhance safety and security of its troops. The exercise involved reviewing the design and layout of the FOBs to help establish sustainable ones, which have a positive bearing on troops, are easy to manage logistically and offer combat force effectiveness. “The threat has continuously changed hence we want better
Gen. Fidza Dludlu, AMISOM Head of Mission Support, addresses military officers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), during the opening session of the AMISOM Engineering Conference in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Col. Olugbemi Adeboye Obasanjo, the AMISOM Force Engineer, addresses military officers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
8
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
protection for our troops on the frontline. We also need to come up with a standardized FOB layout,” said Maj. Gen. Fidza Dludlu, the AMISOM Head of Mission Support, while meeting AMISOM sector engineers in Mogadishu in January. The exercise will require the handing over of some of the military
bases to the Somali National Security Forces as part of the transfer of security responsibility to Federal Government. “Our focus is to support the Somali Transition Plan. This may need us to handover some FOBs or collapse or create new ones,” explained Gen. Dludlu.
Joint Military Operations
I
n the first quarter of 2019, top AMISOM commanders and Somali security officials held several meetings in Mogadishu, to discuss modalities for joint implementation of the AMISOM Concept of Operations (CONOPS). The CONOPS document provides an effective framework for implementation of the AU troops’ gradual transition and final exit from Somalia. The meetings discussed in detail, a wide range of security matters requiring collaborative efforts between AMISOM and the Somali National Security Forces; among them joint operations, securing Main Supply Routes and population centers. AMISOM and the Somali National Security Forces are key stakeholders in the implementation of CONOPS, which guides the Somalia Transition Plan over the next three years and the gradual transfer of security responsibilities from AMISOM to Somali National Security Forces. The top military officials agreed to key operations and activities which would be executed under the CONOPS document approved late 2018, by the Military Operations Coordination Committee (MOCC). The MOCC comprises of Chiefs of Defence Staff and designated representatives of Troop and Police Contributing Countries, the Federal Government of Somalia, the UN, development partners, and the AU Peace and Security Council. Military activities would include targeted operations against Al-Shabaab, to flush them out of their hideouts. The Somalia Transition Plan under which these activities are premised provides for a gradual conditions-based withdrawal of AU troops and the handing over of priority locations in Mogadishu to the Somali Security Forces - in the short term; degrading of Al-Shabaab
and securing Main Supply Routes in the medium term; and support to the Somali National Security Forces as they take full charge of the country’s national security responsibilities - in the long term. “The Transition is about supporting governance institutions in a robust and effective way to ensure peace and security in Somalia. It is important for AMISOM and SNA to undertake joint military operations to flush out Al-Shabaab,” noted Amb. Madeira, the AU Special Representative for Somalia, during one of the security meetings.
Senior military officers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other international partners attend the closing session of the AMISOM Sector Commanders’ Conference which discussed the new Concept of Operations (CONOPS) in Mogadishu, Somalia
“We welcome the opportunity to continue with our joint operations and I want to assure you that all operations will be conducted with full respect and adherence to Human Rights,” added Somalia’s National Security Adviser, Abdi Said Muse Ali, who expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to right-sizing and generation of forces, under the security sector reforms. The commanders leading contingents from Troop
Contributing Countries to AMISOM agreed to reconfigure some of the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), to ensure protection of population centres. AMISOM is committed to safeguarding the gains made in securing the country, despite on-going troop cutbacks. “We should also work on getting the Somalis involved in these operations to enable us succeed in our plans,” emphasized Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn, the AMISOM Force Commander.
Senior AMISOM and Somali security officials attending a high-level meeting to discuss modalities for joint implementation of AMISOM’s Concept of Operations.
A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
9
LIBERATION OF SABIID P
resident Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed
‘Farmajo’ accompanied by the Somali Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Dahir Aden Elmi, interacts with SNA and AMISOM troops during a visit to Sabiid town on 19 April 209. The President visited the town shortly after it has been liberated in a joint offensive.
O
ne of the key triumphs of the joint operations between the Somali National Army(SNA) and AMISOM during the
capture of Sabiid town from the extremist group AlShabaab. In a meticulously executed plan, the forces successfully liberated the strategic bridge town situated in the Lower Shabelle region,
which has been a lifeline to the terror group for several years. Announcing the liberation of the town at the beginning of April, Force Commander Lt. Gen. Tigabu
Yilma Wondimhunegn, SNA and AMISOM, marks the commencement of the implementation of the revised AMISOM Concept of Operations (CONOPS).
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo’ interacts with SNA and AMISOM troops during a visit to Sabiid town on 19 April 209 shortly after the town had been liberated in a joint offensive.
10
A MI S O M MAG AZ INE
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo’ visits Sabiid town, on 19 April 2019, shortly after its liberation following a joint SNA and AMISOM offensive. The President toured the strategic town and also interacted with SNA and AMISOM troops. He was accompanied by senior SNA officials.
Sabiid town is one of the five strategic bridge towns located along the Shabelle river that are earmarked for liberation. Awdheeghle, Bariire, Janaale and Mubarak towns are also earmarked
for liberation. The towns are strategic transit points for Al-Shabaab extremists who cross the various bridges that link the Jubba region and the Lower Shabelle region. Ambassador Francisco
Caetano Madeira, the Head of AMISOM and the AU Special Representative for Somalia, said the liberation of Sabiid town would “deny the enemy the freedom to terrorize local populations.”
“This is a concrete action of the implementation of CONOPS and we will eventually liberate all the other places from the stranglehold of the extremist forces,” he noted.
AMISO M M AGAZ IN E
11
Security Actors Network on Intelligence Sharing
I
n March, Somalia’s security actors held a two-day intelligence and information sharing conference aimed
Major General Nakibus Lakara, AMISOM’s Deputy Force Commander addresses the Intelligence and Information Sharing Conference in Mogadishu.
at enhancing collaboration and information sharing. The conference, the fifth of its kind to be held in the country, was organized by
the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), with the support of the United Kingdom Mission Support Team (UK
MST) and discussed the dynamics in intelligence gathering and how it impacts on Somalia’s security.
Military officials from AMISOM and SNA listen keenly to deliberations during the Intelligence and Information Sharing Conference in Mogadishu.
12
A MI S O M MAG AZ INE
A section of Military officials from AMISOM attending the Intelligence and Information Sharing Conference held in Mogadishu
Col. David Obonyo, AMISOM’s Chief Military Intelligence Officer makes his remarks at the Intelligence and Information Sharing Conference.
AMISOM’s Military intelligence officers from all sectors, representatives of the Somali National Security Forces and other key stakeholders attended the conference - the first to be held in 2019. In his address to the conference, Major Gen. Nakibus Lakara, AMISOM’s Deputy Force Commander in-charge of Operations and Plans noted that the presence of ISIS in the Horn of Africa, called for improvement in intelligence gathering methods and heightened vigilance. The top military official urged stakeholders to forge closer working ties, to defeat the armed insurgency in Somalia. “It is necessary to create networks amongst key stakeholders in the intelligence community through liaison; through a common understanding of the security; of the threat
environment, including the human terrain,” observed while urging AMISOM and the Somali security forces to work closely together, to achieve desired goals. AMISOM’s Chief Military Intelligence Officer, Col. David Obonyo, called for efficient intelligence sharing mechanisms. “It will be important going forward to consistently liaise with NISA (Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency) and other security institutions within the country, to be able to get factual information,” Col. Obonyo noted. He emphasized the importance of systematic sharing of intelligence. “To do that, to degrade the enemy, the information or intelligence that we share must be timely, accurate and actionable,” said the Chief of Intelligence.
AMISO M M AGAZ IN E
13
AMISOM Budget Financing
I
n early April, the European Union (EU) pledged continued support to AMISOM in the implementation of key programmes in Somalia, during a budget planning meeting held in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. European Union’s Team Lead to the EU-Africa Peace Facility, Jorge Pereiro Pinon indicated that member states had “pledged in principle to support AMISOM activities for the 2019/2020 period.”
Officials of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and international partners in a group photo after the opening of a two-day AMISOM Budget meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on 04 April 2019.
provides logistical field support to AMISOM troops and to the Somali National Army during joint operations with AMISOM. “The budget discussions come at a time of reduced funding, when the Mission is expected to do more using the available resources to implement the Somalia Transition Plan,” Mr. Harjit added. In his remarks, Biodun Adeyemo,
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, speaks during the opening session of a two-day AMISOM Budget meeting in Nairobi, Kenya
Jorge Pereiro Pinon, the Team Leader of the EU-Africa/African Peace Facility at the European Union Commission in Brussels, speaks during the opening session of a two-day AMISOM Budget meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
The 28-country trade bloc is the largest contributor to African Union’s peace support operations. Through the Africa Peace Facility, the EU has been supporting AMISOM since 2007. Funding from the EU cover allowances for AMISOM troops and police, salaries for international and local civilian staff and operational costs. “I recognize and thank the immense contribution of our partners, especially the European Union, the United Nations through UNSOS (United Nations Support Office in Somalia) and UNSOM (United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia), who have demonstrated
14
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
to be important and reliable partners of the African Union in the journey to bring peace and stability in Somalia,” Francisco Caetano Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission said. His sentiments were echoed by the UNSOS Chief of Operations and Resource Management, Harjit Dhindsa, who noted that budgeting and finance will remain core to UNSOS’ operations in order to help AMISOM troops carry out operations effectively. UNSOS
Harjit Dhindsa, the Chief of Operations and Resource Management at UNSOS addresses the opening session of AMISOM’s Budget Planning meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Biodun Adeyemo, the Acting Director of Programming, Finance, and Accounting at the African Union Commission, addresses participants attending AMISOM’s Budget Planning meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
the Acting Director of Programming, Finance and Accounting, observed that the decision by AU Heads of State to reduce the AU budget by US$32 million, during their Summit in February 2019, would impact on its programmes and activities. But despite the financial challenges, Mr. Adeyemo noted that the AU will continue supporting AMISOM activities in the Horn of Africa country. “Notwithstanding these challenges, the Commission is committed to implementing the Johannesburg 2015 decision of the member states, that is, supporting 100 percent of operational budgets, 75 percent of programmes and 25 percent of peace support operations,” he said.
EU military chief hails AMISOM
I
n January, the EU Military and Conduct Capability Director, Lt. Gen. Esa Pulkkinen, described the AMISOM as an “indispensable peace support operation”, without which the Horn of Africa country may not function optimally. The EU military top official, who is also the Head of Mission of the EU Training Mission in Somalia, Mali and the Republic of Central Africa, had met with and held talks with AMISOM leadership in Mogadishu. “AMISOM is key to the peace and security of this country and the region,” he said. While acknowledging the European Union as a key partner to the African Union, Simon Mulongo, the Deputy AU Special Representative for Somalia noted that without EU support to AMISOM, the mission in Somalia would not run effectively. “The stability of Somalia is fundamental not just to Somalis themselves; but the region and the international community. And so if we prematurely curtail or hamper the successes, it could be counterproductive,” Mr. Mulongo stated.
Simon Mulongo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Esa Pulkkinen, the EU Military and Conduct Capability Director who is also the Head of the EU Training Missions in Somalia, Mali and the Central Africa Republic
Lt. Gen. Esa Pulkkinen, the European Union Military and Conduct Capability Director, accompanied by officers from the European Union Training Mission (EUTM)-Somalia meet with the AMISOM leadership from the civilian, military and police components
Deputy AU Special Representative for Somalia, Simon Mulongo, addresses the EU delegation led by Lt. Gen. Esa Pulkkinen, the European Union Military and Conduct Capability Director.
A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
15
Mission Implementation Plan
A
high-level meeting held in Kenya’s capital Nairobi to discuss the Mission Implementation Plan highlighted protection of population centers and securing of Main Supply Routes (MSRs), as key priority areas for AMISOM, during the transition period. Francisco Caetano Madeira, the AU Special Representative for Somalia told the meeting that concluded on 5 April 2019, that the two strategic objectives will be implemented jointly by AMISOM troops and the Somali National Army (SNA). “We will continue to protect population centres and secure MSRs to allow people, goods and services to move freely from the main towns to the country’s capital, Mogadishu,” said Ambassador Madeira said, at the end of the five-day meeting. Participants at the Nairobi meeting reviewed AMISOM’s Implementation Plan developed in February 2018, to ensure core activities are realigned with the changing operational and strategic needs. The Head of AMISOM said the AU Mission will continue with
“We will continue to protect population centres and secure MSRs to allow people, goods and services to move freely from the main towns to the country’s capital, Mogadishu,” —Ambassador Madeira
Mr. Paul Amollo, the Political and Diplomatic Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, speaks during the closing session
troop realignment and reconfiguration of the Forward Operating Bases, to ensure gains made on the security front are not eroded, despite the cutback in troops. Ambassador Madeira expressed satisfaction with the Nairobi discussions, saying participants agreed on a comprehensive work programme for the military, police and civilian components. The Acting Director of Programming, Finance, and Accounting at the African Union Commission, Biodun Adeyemo, echoed Madeira’s sentiments, saying the approved budget for the year 2020 would support the AU Mission’s military, civilian and police activities.
AMISOM officials and international partners attending the closing session of the Mission Implementation Plan and Budget meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
16
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
The Political and Diplomatic Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paul Amollo, who closed the meeting, expressed his country’s commitment to the stabilization and restoration of lasting peace in Somalia. “The existence of peace in our neighboring countries is not only beneficial to Kenya, but also to the region as a whole, in terms of economic growth and development,” Mr. Amollo noted. The meeting was attended by senior officials from AMISOM, representatives of the African Union Commission, the European Union, United Nations, multilateral agencies and foreign missions accredited to Somalia.
Joint AU-UN Team Examines Transition
A
Maj. Gen. James Nakibus Lakara, the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Operations and Plans, salutes a guard of honor mounted by Burundian troops.
joint African Union and United Nations (AU-UN) delegation visited Somalia in March, to evaluate progress made by AMISOM in the
tasks, stipulated in the Somalia Transition Plan, the UN and AU resolutions. 2431 (2018), authorized the reduction of uniformed AMISOM personnel, by another one-thousand, by resolution also mandated AMISOM to maintain a minimum of 1040 police formed police units. mandates issued by the two councils (UN and AU) to be undertaken by this Mission. be looking at those mandates and also focus on the Somalia Transition Plan,” explained Maj. Gen. Francis Okello, the Chief, Plans and Operations Unit in the AU’s Peace Operations Support Division, on their arrival in Mogadishu in mid March. establish the challenges facing the AU Mission, the status of the implementation of the recommendations contained in AMISOM’s Operational Readiness Assessment (ORA) report and the preliminary impact of the reduction of AMISOM troops. consultative talks in Mogadishu and also travelled to the port city of Kismayo in Jubbaland State; and Jowhar, the administrative capital of
The joint AU-UN delegation which included officials from UN headquarters and the AU Peace Operations Support Division, hold consultations with various stakeholders, regarding the implementation of the Somalia Transition Plan.
HirShabelle State to assess the
the Federal Member States from Al-Shabaab insurgency, since setting up base in the regions. is to discuss with AMISOM military, police and civilian components, the progress made in the past year, assess the implementation of the Transition Plan; and the recent UN Security Council Resolution on Somalia,” said Vincent Pasquini, the delegation’s Team Leader. Mr. Pasquini, who is from the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Department of Peace Operations (DPO), said the delegation had made an assessment of the transition
activities being undertaken by military contingents from Troop Contributing Countries to AMISOM, and their interface with the Somali National Security Forces. While in Jowhar, the delegation held closeddoor consultations with senior Burundi military magnitude of the challenges facing their troops. Captain Melance Nkengurutse, the Spokesperson for the Burundian troops said discussions with the delegation were centered on operational issues and joint
military operations between the AU troops and the Somali National Army. While in Somalia, the delegation held consultative talks with the Federal Government of Somalia, AMISOM leadership, the UN and international partners on various issues; among them the implementation of the recommendations contained in the AMISOM Operational Readiness Assessment (ORA) report; and the political and security situation in the country, ahead of Somalia’s one-person, one-vote elections, due in 2020/2021.
AMISO M M AGAZ INE
17
Jaalle Siyad Academy Handed over to Somali Government
A
MISOM handed over to the Federal Government of Somalia a cadet training school it had occupied for more than a decade. The Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy, which had been an operation base for the Burundi contingent, since September 2008, was handed
Mahdi Mohamed Gulled, the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia and Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, cut a ribbon during the handover ceremony of the Jaalle Siyad Military Academy to Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu
over to the government by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Francisco Caetano Madeira in March.
“The handover is another major milestone in the implementation of the Somalia Transition Plan, and it follows last August’s handover of the Mogadishu National Stadium
to the Federal Government of Somalia,” said Ambassador Madeira. The Academy holds a special place in the country’s history, having served as a key Forward Operation Base (FBO) for AU troops during the fierce battle against Al-Shabaab militants that led to the liberation of Mogadishu in 2011.
Somali military band performs during the handover ceremony of the Jaalle Siyad Military Academy to the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu
18
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn, the AMISOM Force Commander speaks at the handover ceremony of the Jaalle Siyad Military Academy
The hand over, Madeira noted, signifies the commitment of AMISOM and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to fulfill key requirements in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2431. Ambassador Madeira recollected how the once prestigious military academy fell in the hands of AlShabaab, at the height of the civil war. “It was from this same base that AMISOM troops with the support of Somali forces gallantly liberated another national institution, Gashandiigah (Defence
Abdirahman Omar Osman, the Governor and Mayor of Mogadishu addresses participants during the handover ceremony
Headquarters), which in turn led to the securing of one of Mogadishu’s iconic markets, Bakara market, consequently contributing to Al-Shabaab’s defeat and withdrawal from Mogadishu,” Madeira noted. The handover was a culmination of three months of preparations, which saw a section of Burundian troops move to Jowhar, in HirShabelle State. Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, described the handover of the academy as proof that the country was on the path to achieving lasting peace and security.
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia speaks at the handover ceremony
“The handover of Jaalle Siyaad is testimony to the commitment by the government and its partners to the implementation of the National Security Plan, which is one of the top priorities on the list of government programmes,” he observed. Marco Carmignani, the Director of Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group (ROLSIG) of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), pledged the UN’s continued support to Somalia’s stabilization process. “Allow me to reiterate the commitment of UNSOM and UNSOS to support the Federal
Mahdi Mohamed Gulled, the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, addresses participants during the handover ceremony.
Government of Somalia and AMISOM during the next phases of the transition process,” said Mr. Carmignani, who spoke on behalf of the UN Mission in Somalia. Assets put up by AMISOM for use by Burundi forces, including accommodation facilities and generators were donated to the federal government. The academy became the third facility to be handed over to the Federal Government, after the handover of the Somali National University in July 2017 and Mogadishu National Stadium in August 2018.
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia hands over documents to Mahdi Mohamed Gulled, the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia during the handover ceremony of the Jaalle Siyad Military Academy.
A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
19
Mitigating Conflict Related Sexual Violence
Members of Somali security forces attend a capacity building training on conflict-related sexual violence, prevention and response, in Baidoa.
I
year, several training sessions on mitigating
violence for the Somali security forces took place. Security forces in Beletweyne, in Hiraan region; in the capital Mogadishu; South West and Jubbaland States, were trained by AMISOM on this important subject, in order to increase their understanding of the magnitude of sexual violence in their communities, while at the same time sensitizing them on the importance of human rights observance in the course of their work. Protection of women and girls was given special emphasis. drawn from the Somali Police Force, the Somali National Army (SNA) and the
intelligence forces. Chief Inspector Bernard Azagisnaba, the AU Police Community Policing Advisor, said the training also aimed at increasing the participants’ knowledge on women and children’s vulnerability in society and the need to protect them against sexual violence.
A Somali police officer listens attentively during the capacity building workshop on conflict-related sexual violence.
all, including women and children, from the burden of Al-Shabaab, so the skills we receive from this workshop should help us to handle better the people we are meant to protect,” said Col. Mohamed Hassan Ibrahim, the commander of the 22nd
division of the Somali National Army during one of the training sessions. violence cases remain high in Somalia. Militant group Al-Shabaab and members of other armed groups are the key perpetrators of sexual violence in the country. “We want security personnel to be role models and advocate for survivors violence and also push for laws that protect women Gloria Jaase Nkundanyirazo, AMISOM.
Training of Trainers
A Somali soldier receives a certificate at the end of a Training of the Trainers’ course on the prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence in Mogadishu
Separately, representatives of the Somali security forces participated in a Training of Trainers (ToT) course, on was designed, organized and facilitated by AMISOM, with support from the British Embassy in Somalia, which funded the training. Facilitators included members of the Federal Ministry of President. “We have reached a point where we have demonstrated that the Somali security forces, the civil society, and
Capt. Susana Dery, the AMISOM Sector Four Gender focal point, speaks through an interpreter during a training session on the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence in Beletweyne, Somalia
20
A MI S O M MAG AZ INE
the skills, the knowledge, the ability to deliver this training themselves,” said Jim Haggerty, the Adviser to the British Embassy in Somalia on Early Recovery and Stabilisation.
Focus On Our Troops SECTOR
1
S
hortly after his posting as contingent commander of the Ugandan troops in Somalia, Brig. Gen. Michael Kabango visited troops in Barawe and Maryan Gubay Forward Operating Bases in January. The troops in Battle Group XXVI are part of the African Union forces deployed in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. Brig. Gen. Kabango succeeded Brig. Gen. Paul Lokech as contingent commander in December 2018. “Do not lose touch with the population,” he urged the troops during his interaction with them. While in Barawe, he toured Barawe Airfield, where a runaway is presently under construction, with funding from the Federal Government of Somalia, through the Somali Stability Fund (SSF). The battle group commander, Col. Topher Magino, said his troops were working with the Somali security forces to end
Uganda’s contingent commander tours Forward Operating Bases to assess troops’ readiness
extortion of local residents by Al-Shabaab militants. “Al-Shabaab militants are facing financial constraints since most of the coastal cities which they used to ship in illegal supplies have been liberated, while most of the towns are now under the control of the Federal Government. They
Brig. Gen. Michael Kabango, the Commander of the Ugandan contingent serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) interacts with Ugandan AMISOM military officers during his visit to AMISOM Forward Operation Bases in Lower Shabelle region, Somalia
have resorted to manning checkpoints to extort money from residents and are also using other unscrupulous means to collect revenue illegally, to sustain themselves,” stated Col. Magino.
Working jointly with the Somali National Army, the battle group has been instrumental in securing Main Supply Routes, carrying out patrols, clearing roadside improvised explosive devices.
Uganda’s Commander of Land Forces visits troops in Somalia
U
ganda’s Commander of Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, visited Somalia in February, where he interacted with troops in AMISOM’s Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), located in areas under the control of the Ugandan contingent. Lt. Gen. Elwelu visited troops in Barawe, Bulomareer, Qoryoley, and Ceeljaley-Marka, all located in Sector One, which is secured by Ugandan troops. “What concerns us now is the welfare of our troops in the Mission area,” said the top commander during his visit to the military bases. “Protect yourself, work as a team in order to overcome
The Commander of Land Forces in the Uganda Peoples Defence Force, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu addresses Ugandan soldiers serving under AMISOM.
A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
21
the challenges that you face and consolidate the achievements made so far,” he told troops. Gen. Elwelu advised the troops to remain alert and closely monitor the movements of the Al-Shabaab extremists. “Remember that AlShabaab are at home. They are not in hurry. When you relax,
that is when they will strike,” he cautioned them. Lt. Gen. Elwelu also held meetings with Sayid Ali Ibrahim - the Qoryooley District Commissioner; Ali Muhamed - the Officer inCharge of Police; Dhayow Osman – the National Intelligence Officer and elders from Ceeljaley-Marka. During the meeting
with the Somali officials, the Commander of Land Forces expressed gratitude to host communities living near the Forward Operating Bases, for the support they have accorded AMISOM troops. “Without your cooperation, our soldiers would not manage to operate effectively. Indeed, you have hosted us as brothers. We
pledge to work together to sustain the achievements realized in Somalia, because if Somalia is peaceful, Uganda will also be at peace,” he told the leaders. Underscoring AMISOM’s achievements since 2007 when the AU troops first deployed in Somalia, Lt. Gen. Elwelu noted that Somalia was well on the road to full recovery.
Ugandan Peacekeepers Mark Tarehe Sita
O
n February 6, Ugandan peacekeepers commemorated the 38th anniversary since the Uganda’s National Resistance Army launched a five-year liberation struggle that brought it to power in 1986, by offering free medical treatment to needy residents of Mogadishu. Residents of Halane, a suburb in the capital city which is in close proximity to the AMISOM basecamp, turned out in large numbers at the medical camp. “We request that this medical camp is held frequently in this area, because the population here is poor and in dire need of medical services,” Abdi İbrahim Yasin, a resident of Halane, said. “The free medical check-up was timely. The treatment received has come in handy,” added Ms. Maryan Aynte Ibrahim, another Halane resident.
22
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
Ugandan soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) carry out a cleanup exercise in Mogadishu, Somalia, to Mark ‘Tarehe Sita’.
A Ugandan military medical officer serving under the United Nations Guard Unit in Somalia attends to a sick child at an outpatient medical camp in Mogadishu, Somalia
SECTOR
R
2
oads in Dhobley town, in Somalia’s Lower Jubba region, will receive a major facelift, following the commencement of rehabilitation works, launched by AMISOM on 6 April 2019. The project to rehabilitate the town’s infrastructure is being undertaken as part of the civil-military cooperation
Roads rehabilitation launched in Dhobley between AMISOM and the local administration, with the aim of facilitating movement of people and goods, while meeting the objectives of the Mission’s Concept of Operations (CONOPS). “Dhobley is one of the key population centers that we are currently securing and we cannot secure the population center if the roads and
Kenya Defence Forces under AMISOM pour murram on the main road in Dhobley town, at the start of the road works.
AMISOM Sector 2 Contingent Commander Brig. Gen. Dickson Ruto, speaks about the roads rehabilitation project, launched in Dhobley.
infrastructure is in bad shape,” Brigadier General Dickson Ruto, the Commander of the AMISOM Kenyan contingent said. The AU troops also plan to secure Main Supply Routes and other major population centers outside Dhobley. “Once we are through with Dhobley town, we will proceed to other major populations which link with Dhobley,” Brigadier Ruto noted. Accompanied by the local administration, the Sector 2 contingent commander toured
Dhobley town and discussed further areas of cooperation. He expressed AMISOM’s commitment to working harmoniously with civilians and local authorities in their Areas of Operation. Siyad Mohamed Hassan, the Administrator of Dhobley town lauded AMISOM’s engagements in the grassroots. He said the roads rehabilitation project was timely and would ease transportation of goods and movement of people during the rainy season. “We identified critical areas where we require support and requested AMISOM to provide assistance. The roads repair is one of them,” stated Mr. Siyad. “We are also collaborating with AMISOM on security matters to support the fulfilment of their mandate. AMISOM has been very helpful in securing and protecting populations in this region,” he added.
Force Commander visits troops in Dhobley
L
t. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn spent a day with troops in Dhobley, the main base of the Kenyan contingent deployed under AMISOM, in March, as part of his familiarization with sector activities. The Force Commander held discussions with the Sector II Commander, Brig. Gen. Dickson Ruto, and other
senior military officials in the border town. In his remarks, the Force Commander paid tribute to fallen Kenyan troops who have been killed on the frontline in Somalia. He described them as heroes who “had fallen after a gallant fight”, to help Somalia achieve lasting peace and security. The sectors visit was also aimed at boosting the morale
AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn meets with Kenyan troops in Dhobley in Gedo region during a famiirazation tour of Sector 2, which is secured by troops from the Kenya Defence Forces, on 3 March 2019. The Force Commander was received in Dhobley by AMISOM Sector 2 Commander Brig. Gen. Dickson Ruto.
of AMISOM troops ahead of planned offensives against
Al-Shabaab in their Areas of Responsibility. A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
23
SECTOR
3
Ethiopian Female Peacekeepers Train on Gender Awareness
E
Ethiopian female peacekeepers listen attentively to facilitators during a three-day Gender Awareness Workshop, in Mogadishu, Somalia on 9 April 2019. They were among 27-gender focal points trained, to impart skills on gender, to their colleagues in the sectors
24
A MI S O M MAG AZ INE
thiopian female peacekeepers were among 27-female peacekeepers and military gender focal points, who benefitted from a three-day gender awareness training in the second week of April, in the capital Mogadishu. The peacekeepers will act as resource persons on gender issues in Sector 3, which is secured by Ethiopian troops, operating under AMISOM . The gender focal points were taught various subjects, among them; issues related to conflict-related sexual violence; international, regional and national frameworks on human rights; gender equality and gender parity; sexual exploitation and abuse especially among women and girls. Addressing the three-day gender workshop, Maj. Gen. Nakibus Lakara, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in-charge of Operations and Plans, encouraged more women to join the military. “Women peacekeepers have a way of establishing ties with their fellow womenfolk in a culturally sensitive society such as the Somali society,” observed Gen. Lakara. He noted that women peacekeepers have vital skills in information gathering, which is critical for the effective functioning of the military, apart from fostering cordial relations with host communities. The participants said the training had expanded their knowledge and understanding of gender issues. Participants were drawn from all the sectors. “The participation of women in peacekeeping operations is not simply desirable but critical and very important for the success of peacekeeping operations,” emphasized Gen. Lakara.
SECTOR
4
A Day with the Force Commander
I
n March, AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn spent a day with troops in Beletweyne, Hiiran region, to familiarize
held talks with AMISOM and Somali National Army
region is secured by the Djibouti contingent under Sector IV. Gen. Tigabu who
implementation of the Concept of Operations, approved by the African
keen on acquainting himself with troops realignment and military operations.
Union Peace and Security Council in April 2019, and the Somali Transition Plan, which supports the transfer of national security responsibilities to Somali National Security Forces. “We have to observe the readiness and the strength of the military in every sector,
to establish our capability and how to implement our CONOPS,� said the Force Commander. Representatives of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which provides logistical support to AMISOM, also held talks with Gen. Tigabu.
Djiboutian soldiers led by AMISOM Sector 4 Commander Mohamed Ibrahim Muse, receive Force Commander Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn, during his familiarization tour of Sector 4, on 2 March 2019.
AMISO M M AGAZ IN E
25
SECTOR
I
5
Burundi Contingent Hosts AU-UN Visiting Delegation
n February, a joint review team from the African Union and the United Nations spent time in Jowhar, the Burundi contingent headquarters, weeks before the drawdown of the contingent’s troops.
to assess the possible impact of the troops’ cutback and held lengthy discussions with Burundian military commanders. Burundi troops are located in Sector V, in line with AMISOM’s sectorization of troops. Captain Melance Nkengurutse, the Sector V said the discussions between Sector V commanders and the joint delegation focused on challenges facing AMISOM troops in the wake of the drawdown. sector 5 to discuss with sector
operational issues in this sector, how to factor in the drawdown of troops and how the sector is carrying out joint operations with SNA,” Captain Nkengurutse said.
Burundi contingent receives visiting AU-UN joint delegation in Jowhar, the capital of HirShabelle State. The delegation was accompanied to Jowhar by the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in-charge of Operations and Plans, Maj. Gen. Nakibus Lakara.
Between February and March 2019, Burundian troops
in Somalia were cut down by one-thousand.
Burundi Troops Form Partnerships with HirShabelle Administration
H
irShabelle State administrative
courtesy call on the Burundi contingent in Jowhar, on 18 February 2019, to discuss with
faced by the community and how they can be resolved. secured peacekeeping troops from Burundi is considered
one of the least challenging in regards to the insurgency. state was accompanied to the meeting by the HirShabelle Regional Commissioner and
Burundi contingent Chief of Staff, Colonel Rémy Cishahayo meets with a section of leaders from HirShabelle State and representatives of the business community in Jowhar. The meeting discussed security matters.
26
A MI S OM MAG AZI NE
representatives of the business community in Jowhar. Discussions with the Burundi Colonel Rémy Cishahayo focused on AMISOM’s positive contribution to the prevailing peace in the region. During the discussions, representatives of the business community present sought more security escorts when transporting and delivering their goods to various destinations in the region. AMISOM promised to enhance security for the traders to enable them transport their goods in a safe manner. from HirShabelle state will be trained on managing checkpoints. “We are here for the sole purpose of protecting you,” Colonel Cishahayo assured the visiting delegation, while encouraging them to continue partnering with AMISOM in keeping the state safe from militants.
Female Peacekeepers Seek Gender Parity
O
n March 8, female peacekeepers in AMISOM joined the rest of world to mark the International Women’s Day, with a plea for gender parity in peacekeeping missions. The women drawn from all the Troop and Police Contributing Countries
Chief Superintendent of Police, Glory Urhere, speaks on behalf of AMISOM Police Commissioner during a ceremony.
Female Peacekeepers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) march during the celebrations to mark International Women’s Day, held in Mogadishu
(T/PCCs) and the Somali National Security Forces, gathered in Mogadishu to take stock of women’s contributions
to global peace, while reviewing the challenges facing them in the social, economic and political fronts.
Female Peacekeepers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) mount a guard of honor during the celebrations to mark International Women’s Day
The female peacekeepers marked the day with a walk, to highlight the important role women play in the development of the continent; and later congregated at a forum convened to discuss women’s role in peacekeeping. The Deputy Commissioner of Police from Nigeria, Rotimi Adelesi, and Assistant Commissioner of Police from Ghana, Lydia Yaako Donkor attended the forum. “It is not just about women. The balance should be between men and women because we need the equal participation of both men and women to achieve any target,” Ms. Donkor noted. International Women’s Day is marked annually on March 8, and has been an instrument in the movement for women’s rights. A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
27
Somali Security Forces train on International Humanitarian Law
H
undreds of Somali National Army personnel were trained on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, to sensitize them about rules of engagement during combat and the protection of civilians. The training was part of preparations ahead of planned military activities to liberate areas of the country from the control of Al-Shabaab extremists. As a party to the Geneva Conventions, Somalia is
Brig. Gen. Odawaa Yussuf Raage
bound by certain rules, that must be observed during war. “We are bound by International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law in all our engagements,” emphasized Brig. Gen. Odawaa Yussuf Raage, SNA’s Chief of Staff, during a training session at the Gen. Gordon Military Academy in Mogadishu. “We are the custodians of these laws and therefore, we must preserve the dignity of our people,” he told hundreds of soldiers and their commanders who participated in the day-long training session. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) organized the training, which also sensitized the soldiers on the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. SNA’s senior military officials and AMISOM’s representatives noted that the training would ensure compliance with international
A section of Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers at the Gen. Gordon Military Academy in Mogadishu, Somalia on 28 March 2019.
laws, during military operations. “This training relates to how they should behave in times of war, what they are
Dr. Omar Abdulle Alasow.
prohibited to do, means and methods of warfare in terms of protection of civilians, what they should do and what they shouldn’t do - in terms of committing of violations, the accountability systems, command responsibility as well as individual responsibility,” Dr. Omar Abdulle Alasow, AMISOM’s Senior Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Advisor said. The training shed light on basic rules and principles of the laws of war and will especially be crucial during joint military operations between SNA and AMISOM.
Training programme on human rights for Somali Security Forces
E
arlier in the year, AMISOM launched a training programme for officers from the Somali National Security Forces in all the Federal Member States, to improve their level of compliance with the International Human Rights Law. The first course was held in Mogadishu, where 30 officers from the Somali National Army (SNA), the Somali Police Force (SPF), the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), line ministries and the federal member states, were familiarized with International Laws and instruments on Human Rights. “This programme is part of the collective effort by the United Kingdom and its partners to support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the federal member states, to ensure
28
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
Simon Mulongo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia and Mary Shockledge, the Deputy UK Ambassador to Somalia pose for a group photo with some of the participants at the end of a training.
compliance within the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF), with international human rights, norms and standards,”
Britain’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Mary Shockledge, said while officially closing the three-day human rights course.
AMISOM Police Establishes Presence to Dhobley
I
n March, a detachment of nine Individual Police Officers (IPOs) from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), was deployed to Dhobley in the Lower Jubba region, to embark on capacity building of the local police force. The AU police officers who are specialists in different fields, are working alongside Jubbaland State Police Force, to train local police and expand their presence in the region. “We are going to do this through mentoring, training and support in infrastructural development,” Rex Dundun, the AMISOM Police Chief of Staff, who is also the Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner said on arrival in Dhobley on March 26. The deployment is part of efforts to fulfill the UN Security Council Resolution 2431(2018), which calls for increased police presence in Somalia, as military troops are gradually reduced. Dhobley and the rest of Lower Jubba region is secured by the Kenya Defence Forces operating under AMISOM. “We are aware of the tremendous responsibility the Kenya Defence Forces of
Individual Police Officers (IPO’s) serving under the Police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), led by Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner and Chief of Staff Rex Dundun, arrive in Dhobley, Somalia for deployment. (Below) Individual Police Officers (IPO’s) serving under the Police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), attend a meeting following their deployment to Dhobley, Somalia
AMISOM have, in securing Dhobley and ensuring that the area is safe. Now is the time to build the local police capacity, so that they can now take charge of the internal
Col. Hassan Challa, the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander for Sector 2, briefs a delegation from the Police component led by Rex Dundun, the AMISOM Police Chief of Staff, who is also the Acting Police Commissioner, during the deployment of Individual Police Officers to Dhobley, Somalia.
security of Dhobley and its environs,” stated DCP Dundun who had accompanied the IPOs. He added that AMISOM may also deploy a contingent of Formed Police Unit in the town, to assist in joint security operations. The AU Police Officers will be in Dhobley for the next one year, during which they will bolster the capacity of the local Police, and develop substantial police presence in the entire Lower Jubba region. Col. Haybe Ahmed Abdullahi, the Police commander in Dhobley expressed confidence at the quality of training that his officers would receive from AMISOM. “We would like our forces to get quality world class training from this collaboration,” he stated. A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
29
Ghana to Send Additional Police Personnel to Somalia
I
n January, Ghana announced plans to deploy in Somalia, a contingent of 160-police personnel from the country’s Formed Police Unit (FPU), to boost policing interventions in Somalia. Ghana’s decision to deploy additional police officers in the Horn of Africa country, is in response to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2431(2018), which recommends an increment in numbers of AU police in the country – at least 1,040 police personnel, including five Formed Police Units. AMISOM police component currently has three FPUs, and is seeking to bridge the shortfall, to arrive at agreed numbers. “We are just about to kick-start training of personnel,” confirmed the Director of International Relations in the Ghana Police Service and leader of the delegation, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Baba Saanid Adamu, who added that Ghana Police had already notified the AU Commission to send an assessment team to the West African country. “Hopefully, by the mid-March, we would have concluded training and assessment,” he added. The Ghana FPU’s will be deployed in Baidoa, the administrative capital of the South West State. A four-member Ghanaian delegation comprising of Chief Superintendent of Police Reginald Osei from the Formed Police Unit of Ghana, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Rose Awah, Deputy Superintendent of Police,
30
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
Senior officers from the Police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia, meet a visiting delegation of officers from the Ghana Police Service in Mogadishu, Somalia
Frank Duodu and ACP Adamu, visited Baidoa, to assess the security situation in the regional capital and available facilities, in a pre-deployment assessment exercise. “Ghana’s contribution will help to fill the gaps in terms
of the capacity and the needs for the Police component,” the Deputy AU Special Representative for Somalia, Simon Mulongo, told the visiting officials, during a meeting in Mogadishu. Formed Police Units carry out joint security operations
Simon Mulongo (left), the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia receives a plaque from Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Baba Saanid Adamu, the Director of International Relations in the Ghana Police Service.
alongside their Somali counterparts. The operations include patrols, cordon and search, and management of checkpoints, to enhance the operational capabilities of the Somali police officers. The FPUs also support their Somali counterparts in public order management and provision of armed escort for VIPs, as well as close protection services to AMISOM Individual Police Officers, who collocate at various police stations across the country, to provide dayto-day mentorship to Somali police officers. Other than Ghana, Djibouti has also expressed interest to deploy a Formed Police Unit in Somalia. Presently, Ghana has a team of 39 Individual Police Officers serving under the AU Mission in Somalia; a team which has demonstrated exemplary performance as staff officers, trainers, instructors and mentors, according to Mr. Mulongo.
Mohamed Abukar Islow Dualle, the Somali Federal Minister for Internal Security, speaks during the passing out ceremony
HirShabelle’s Pioneer Police Officers
A
total of one-hundred and You are mandated to maintain law and ninety-eight (198) police order, but do so within the confines of officers recruited by the law,” HirShabelle Vice President Ali HirShabelle State Police last Abdullahi Hussein Guudlaawe urged November, participated in a colourful the new recruits. passing out ceremony upon completion The training was conducted by of a three-month intensive police course. AMISOM Police and funded by The police officers are the first batch the European Union. Somali Police of 800-new police recruits absorbed in Commissioner, Gen. Bashir Abdi the state’s police force, to maintain law Mohamed, urged the officers to and order in Somalia’s youngest federal maintain high levels of discipline in state. their work. “It’s your responsibility as police “You are joining a police force officers to ensure that you exercise with reputable history of dedication, professionalism, observe fundamental discipline and selfless service to the issues of human rights, issues of public. I expect you to be humble rule of law and constitutionalism yourselves and treat the public with when carrying out your duties as empathy,” he advised. police officers,” Simon Mulongo, the “It is a historic day for us and we Deputy Special Representative of the are ready to defend and sacrifice our Chairperson of the African Union lives, serving this country,” said Rahma Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, told Mohamed Hassan, a new police recruit. the new recruits, during the ceremony Another police recruit, Hussein held in Jowhar, the administrative Mohamed Abdulle, expressed capital of HirShabelle State. confidence that the new team of police The passing out parade was attended officers would perform their duties by high ranking Federal with diligence and and HirShabelle keep HirShabelle State state officials, among secure. them the Federal The three-month Minister of Internal comprehensive training Security, Mohamed focused on different Abukar Islow; the aspects of policing, Police Commissioner including crime of the Somali Police prevention and public Force – Gen. Bashir order management. The Abdi Mohamed and police recruits were also HirShabelle State Police taught International Commissioner – Col. Humanitarian Law and Hassan Dhicisow. International Human “On your shoulders Rights Law, which are — Rahma Mohamed Hassan, is the arduous task of critical in their day-toa police recruit securing HirShabelle. day duties.
“It is a historic day for us and we are ready to defend and sacrifice our lives, serving this country,”
Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlaawe, the Vice President of HirShabelle State, speaks during the passing out ceremony
Simon Mulongo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, speaks during the passing out ceremony for newly recruited HirShabelle State Police personnel.
General Bashir Abdi Mohamed, the Somali Police Commissioner, speaks during the passing out ceremony for newly recruited HirShabelle State Police personnel in Jowhar, Somalia
A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
31
Digital Integration of Personnel Data
A
MISOM has announced plans to digitize data of all its troops, including the Military and Police, in order to fast-track the submission of troop nominal rolls. At least forty-six (46) military and police personnel successfully concluded a training course, aimed at enhancing their knowledge on information and database management. “At the end of the day, we expect the running and
AMISOM military officers attend a database management training workshop in Mogadishu.
Maj. Gen. Maurice Gateretse, the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Support and Logistics, speaks during the closing session of the database management workshop
management of personnel data will be smooth; and will translate to timely payment of the troops,” said Major John Kisaale, a data management facilitator. The migration from paper-based data to an online database, was expected to hasten compensation and payout of allowances to the Mission’s uniformed personnel.
Daniel Ali Gwambal (left), the AMISOM Police Operations Coordinator, presents a certificate to an AMISOM police officer during the closing session of a database management training workshop for AMISOM military and police officers in Mogadishu, Somalia.
32
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
“This course is therefore coming at the right time, as it will help us to manage our personnel in a more professional manner; to enable your effective contribution to the overall goal of bringing peace to Somalia,” Maj. Gen. Gateretse, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in-charge of Support and Logistics said in his remarks, during the official closing ceremony of the training. He urged participants to apply skills acquired in their day-to-day duties, including computing troop allowances and undertaking investigations of troops’ conduct. Participants were drawn from all AMISOM sectors and comprised of administrative officers, Board of Inquiry officers and data clerks, whose duties involve handling personnel issues and providing mission support. “It’s a big change that is going to help us resolve a lot of issues, in terms of finding documents in relation to particular personnel, maintaining medical records and troop rotations,” noted Bona Bandere, a Communication Information Technology Services (CITS) Officer.
AMISOM Rebuilds Bombed School
M
ore than 400 children who had stayed home for a couple of years after their school was bombed by terror group Al-Shabaab, resumed classes in January, after AMISOM renovated and equipped their school. Dr. Qamar Primary School – established in 2009 in memory of a former minister in the Transitional Government Dr. Kamar Aden Ali, was badly damaged in a suicide bomb attack, leading to its closure in 2016. The attack forced 420 children out of school, until AMISOM stepped in to rehabilitate the damaged classrooms in late 2018, under a programme that focuses on Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). “The renovation of the block of classrooms will facilitate access to education for hundreds of Somali children who were affected
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, hands over keys to Deqa Yasin, Somalia’s Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, during a ceremony to handover the newly renovated school.
by the bombing,” said the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African
Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, during
the handover of the school to officials of the Federal Government of Somalia.
Deqa Yasin, Somalia’s Minister of Women and Human Rights Development and Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, on an inspection tour of the newly rehabilitated school.
A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
33
Injured on The Frontline
A
frequent visitor to injured peacekeepers recuperating in hospital, Francisco Madeira, the AU Special Representative for Somalia, gave a thumbs up to the quality of treatment administered on injured
troops in various medical institutions in Kenya. In March, Ambassador Madeira visited the soldiers recuperating in various hospitals in Nairobi, where he was accompanied by AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn; Dr. Komlan
Moreira - the AMISOM Medical Planning Officer and Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh, who is Ambassador Madeira’s Advisor on the Transition Process. The soldiers from Troop Contributing Countries to AMISOM had suffered various degrees of injuries, while
on the frontline in Somalia, necessitating their evacuation to Nairobi for specialized treatment. “I went to see each one of them. And they are in very high spirits because their recovery is very remarkable,” said Ambassador Madeira after the hospital rounds.
The AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, accompanied by AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondimhunegn, interacts with peacekeepers recuperating in various Nairobi hospitals and a section of hospital staff.
Ambassador Madeira, AMISOM officials and medical staff of Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi pose for a group photograph.
34
AMI S O M M AG A Z IN E
In Memory of Commissioner
A
Christine Alalo
MISOM was thrown into mourning in March, following the death of the Acting Police Commissioner CP Christine Alalo, in the Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10. The mission observed three days of mourning in honour of the late Commissioner of Police. AMISOM staff and their counterparts from the UN and other partner organizations held a memorial for the late Alalo, who was eulogized as a consummate professional, who had contributed immensely to reforms in the Somali Police Force. “She understood that the police played a bigger role in bringing Somalis together,” said the AU Special Representative for Somalia Francisco Caetano Madeira, during a memorial service held for her in Mogadishu. “She was like a soldier who knew that any time (she) could fall, because the endeavor was dangerous. So, she ensured that everybody knew the important things that have to be done”. The late Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner was among the 157-passengers and crew, who perished aboard the ill-fated flight, which crashed shortly after takeoff. In an outpouring of grief, mourners among them foreign diplomats accredited to Somalia, AMISOM and UN officials eulogized the late Commissioner of Police as a champion of Somalia’s recovery and growth. “She was not working really just for herself, she was working for the women and children of Somalia and to make sure that one day, they can all live in peace,” Lisa Filipetto, the Head of UNSOS, told mourners at the memorial. “Her contribution in attaining peace and stability in Somalia will forever be felt,” stated Rex Dundun, AMISOM Police’s Chief of Staff, who
Ms. Lisa Filiberto’s, the Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), signs a condolence book for the late CP Christine Alalo, at AMISOM Mission HQs in Mogadishu, Somali.
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Head of AMISOM, addresses AMISOM staff, during a memorial for the late CP Alalo at Mission HQs, in Mogadishu, Somalia.
worked closely with the deceased. “Christine was a trailblazer in her own right, rising to the top of the profession
in Uganda. And here in AMISOM, she set a strong example of female leadership in not only security services but also in multilateral peace
AMISOM police officers sing hymns during the memorial for the late CP Christine Alalo at Mission HQs, in Mogadishu, Somalia.
operations. She worked to build bridges and worked closely with all partners including UN Police colleagues to support the Somali Police Force to rebuild Somalia’s security institutions for the benefit of all Somalis,” Raisedon Zenenga, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia and the Officer-inCharge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) said. The void she left was best described by the staff she supervised, and who looked up to her as their role model. “As female peacekeepers in AMISOM, we love you, but God loves you more. Continue to rest in the bosom of your creator. May your soul rest in perfect peace,” said CSP Glory Urhere of AMISOM Police. The late Alalo joined AMISOM in June 2015 as Deputy Police Commissioner, a position she held until November 2017, when she took over the leadership of AMISOM Police in an acting capacity. She was instrumental in providing guidance and leadership in the transformation of the Somali Police Force into a reliable and professional outfit, while preparing the force for the eventual takeover of policing responsibility from AMISOM. Commissioner Alalo died while en-route from Italy, where she had attended a conference. May her soul rest in eternal peace. A MI SOM M AG A Z IN E
35