AMISOM and Somali Police Force hold Joint Review Meeting

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 9, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia Honorable Wafula Wamunyinyi has re-emphasized the need for continued relationship between the Somali Police Force (SPF) and AMISOM Police to ensure sustainable peace and security in the country.

Honourable Wamunyinyi was speaking in Mogadishu, Somalia while closing the Joint Review Meeting between AMISOM Police and the Somali Police Force (SPF). The Deputy AU Special Representative said; “I therefore think that it is important to build and maintain strong confidence among partners and I hope this meeting will strengthen the good relationship between AMISOM Police and the Somali Police Force (SPF) in order to meet our target of ensuring security not only in Mogadishu but also other regions.”

The Commander-in-Chief of the Somali Police Force (SPF) Brigadier General Sharif Sheekhura Maye appealed for continued support from the Police Component of the African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) in its endeavor to extend its operations beyond Mogadishu City in 2012. He said; “With the liberation of Mogadishu, it is important to prioritize the expansion of SPF activities beyond Benadir region in order sustain the security situation created by the withdrawal of Al-Shabaab terrorist group”.

The meeting which pooled senior police officers from the Somali Police Force on one hand and AMISOM Police Senior Leadership Team and Training experts on the other sought to review police activities undertaken in 2011 and plan for 2012.

AMISOM Police Commissioner Dr. Charles Makono assured the Somali Police Force (SPF) of African Union’s continued support in 2012 and beyond saying it was AMISOM’s mandate to train, mentor and provide capacity building support to the SPF to attain international policing standards.

“Through this meeting we hope to review the activities undertaken in 2011, plan for 2012 as well as fostering the relationship between the Somali Police Force (SPF) and AMISOM Police. At the end of the day, we shall come up with priorities for 2012 and strengthen the already existing working relationship between ourselves and the Somali Police Force (SPF).” Said Dr. Makono.