The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) concluded a five-day training course on Monday, focusing on police station management and crime reduction in local communities. The training was part of the preparations for the Somali Police Force to take full security responsibility when ATMIS exits Somalia in December 2024.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Mogadishu, the AU mission said that a group of Hirshabelle State Police officers participated in the training program, which covered various aspects of community policing, search and arrest procedures, detention practices, criminal investigation methods, and the responsibilities of station commanders.
During the closing ceremony, Sgt. Zainab Mayah Conteh, the ATMIS Team Leader of Training and Development in Sector 5, reiterated the importance of the topic covered in the training. “As ATMIS, we are proud that we have been able to execute this training, as one of our main mandates is to provide capacity building to the Somali Police Force,” he added.
“Some of these techniques that have been taught here today are valuable to both the Somali Police Force and the community as a whole, which is why when a country has a good police force, it will most likely have improved security systems as well” added Sgt. Zeinab.
The Deputy Commander of Jowhar Airfield Police Station, Lt. Ahmed Abdulle Madobe, thanked ATMIS Police for conducting the much-needed training for the Hirshabelle police officers.
“The five-day course on station management and community policing was really valuable. The participants gained important skills. We are grateful to ATMIS police for the much-needed training provided to our police officers,” said Madobe.
He noted that the training would help the officers discharge their duties professionally and maintain good community relations.
Officer Abdi Osman, one of the participants, said the training had improved his skills and knowledge on how to fight crime and develop better relations with community members.
“I gained important skills from the five-day course on police station management conducted by ATMIS. We hope they will conduct more capacity-building training in the near future” said Osman, a Hirshabelle police officer.
ATMIS Police component supports the Somali Police Force by providing capacity-building training, advice and mentoring officers, conducting regular joint patrols and protecting vital installations. Also present were ATMIS Police Coordinating Officer in Hirshabelle, SP Aguta Jimton and ATMIS Civil Affairs Officer and Team Coordinator Sector 5, Christopher Aria.
