Officers of the Somali Police Force have begun a week-long training to improve effectiveness in the management of police assets in Mogadishu, Somalia (SPF).
This capacity-building exercise, which was attended by ten SPF officers from the department of logistics, was funded by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as part of its Police Reforms, Restructuring and Development programme.
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Dore of the SPF and Maxwell Chikunguru, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Coordinator for ATMIS Police Reforms, Restructuring, and Development, jointly presided over the beginning of the training.
ACP Chikunguru pointed out that enhancing the accountability of police resources and minimising loss and abuse was essential to increasing the effectiveness of police operations as a whole.
According to ACP Chikunguru, who spoke on behalf of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Augustine Magnus Kailie, the ATMIS Police Commissioner, “this course is primarily to impart the participants with the knowledge, relevant skills, values, and attitudes for them to effectively and efficiently manage SPF assets and logistics.”
According to Cpt. Ahmed Tahilil, the mentoring and capacity-building training that SPF receives from ATMIS Police adds significantly to the value of the policing services provided and the development of expertise across the nation.
“We have several training sessions lined up with the ATMIS Police. In order to increase the effectiveness and professionalism of the SPF, we have a friendly relationship with ATMIS and will collaborate closely with them on a number of other projects, the official said.
The SPF is to receive operational support from ATMIS Police, including operational expertise and logistical support capabilities, as well as advice, mentorship, and support for specialised training.
According to Mukhtar Adam, one of the ten trainee officers and a member of the SPF since 2015, “the collaboration between the Somali Police Force and ATMIS police has been essential to the professionalisation of SPF, especially through capacity building and trainings.”