Prime Minister galvanizes security forces as reforms take hold
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon made a bold sweep across Mogadishu today, visiting numerous security, defence and intelligence sites, praising the armed forces and police and calling on them to redouble their efforts to stabilise Somalia.
His Excellency Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji Faqi, the Minister of Defence, welcomed the Prime Minister at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, where the Cabinet visitors took a salute and met a contingent of Somali troops fresh from six months training in Uganda.
“Somalia needs you more than anyone today,” the Prime Minister told the troops. “You are in the vanguard of our efforts to stabilize the country. That great responsibility falls upon you. To get where we need to be, to create a bright future for Somalia, we cannot rely on other countries. We must take ownership of our own destiny.”
Accompanied by His Excellency the Minister of Interior, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the Prime Minister also visited the Police Academy for the launch of Birmad, a new police special forces unit trained in Somalia and Djibouti consisting of crack police officers with a mandate to secure Mogadishu. The new unit’s responsibilities include counter-terrorism, protection of IDPs and women and weapons clearance.
“Birmad’s first task is to secure Mogadishu,” the Minister of Interior said. He asked the conference hall of more than 800 officers, “Are you ready to step up to the plate?” The officers roared back, “Yes we are!”
The Prime Minister’s sweep across Mogadishu also included a visit to Halane Military Training Camp at Jazeera, where he inspected a parade of Somali-trained troops.
“As we strengthen our armed forces, you are pioneers for the way forward,” the Prime Minister said. “Somali-trained troops to defend Somalia.”
The Prime Minister also visited the National Intelligence and Security Agency and the Benadir Region headquarters. He ended his day-long visit with a call on the Ministry of Information, where he paid tribute to Mohamed Ibrahim Rageh, the state broadcaster killed in Mogadishu on Sunday.