UK Signs Pact to Support Somaliland Police, Immigration Department

Addis Ababa, 31 May, 2013 (SDN) -United Kingdom signed a bilateral assistance agreement with Somaliland’s Ministry of Interior on Thursday, in Addis Ababa to pledge its support to the Somaliland Police, Immigration and criminal investigation department. The pact signed by Somaliland’s minister of interior, Mohamed Nour Arrale “Duur” and Deputy British Ambassador to Ethiopia Mr. Chris Allan is of two prongs and is expected to make huge difference to Somaliland domestic security. The ceremony where the two officials from Somaliland and the UK signed the deal was attended by Somaliland police commissioner Brigadier General Abdilahi Fadal Iman and the head of country’s Immigration department Mohamed Ali Yusuf. The minister has announced that the UK has altered the travel ban from her citizens travelling to Somaliland due to threat and further added that UK diplomats are planning to embark on a visit to Somaliland recently. The UK government made clear that it will improve the quality of Somaliland’s Immigration department by giving capacity building projects regarding the department’s offices in the country. The immigration officials will have the duty to vet all forged passports in border areas and the British donated up to six vehicles, provide training and creating Data System that will connect all other offices in the country. The UK government has pledged to invest police especially the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Special Police Unit (SPU) where new headquarters will be built and instruments that will aid them investigate crimes will be distributed. The British Ambassador to Ethiopia Mr. Greg Dorey held lunch banquet in honor of Somaliland’s Interior Minister before the signing ceremony was to kick off.

SDN Hargeisa News Desk