Wednesday, October 6, 2010

EU training Somali military

The European Union said it was training about 1,000 Somalis in Uganda to take part in security operations in Somalia.

There are more than 4,000 peacekeepers from the African Union deployed in Somalia to help support the transitional government in Mogadishu.

More than 90 military trainers from 14 members of the European Union are taking part in the training efforts at a military base in Uganda, the BBC reports.

The first deployment of Somali troops is scheduled for the end of October. Washington said it would foot the bill for the training.

Militants with al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabaab declared war on the African Union peacekeepers in Somalia. The group claimed responsibility for twin attacks July 11 in Uganda that killed more than 70 people gathered to watch the World Cup final.

Jonathan Evans, the director general of British intelligence agency MI5, issued a public warning last month in London that al-Shabaab could be spreading out beyond Africa.

"I am concerned that it is only a matter of time before we see terrorism on our streets inspired by those who are today fighting alongside al-Shabaab," he said.

Somalia hasn't had a functioning central government in more than 20 years.

Source: UPI

No comments:

Post a Comment