AU, UN have meeting deliberating on empowerment of Somali security sector

A meeting that deliberates on empowerment of Somali security sector was held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting has attracted participants from the AU, troop contributing countries to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), neighboring countries, the United Nations, and the European Union (EU) among others.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Ramtane Lamamra, AU commissioner for peace and security, said the purpose of the meeting is to seek coordinated support in material terms to enhance the organization capacity cohesion, professional and operational effectiveness of the Somali national security forces (SNSF).

"This conference is in line with and part of the series of activities by the AU and countries of the region organized within IGAD in close cooperation with the UN partners organizations and countries to seize the widow of opportunity availed by the on- going military successes against Al-Shabab by the Somali national security forces with the support of AMISOM and the Ethiopian national defense force," said Lamamra.

The commissioner recalled that the AU-UN Strategic Concept and other demands stressed the need to strengthen the security forces of Somalia and also support to AMISOM.

"The AU-UN strategic concept stresses the need for the enhancement of the SNSF to enable them play an increased and more effective role in the implementation of the strategic concept," he said.

He also said the meeting focuses on the support to Somalia on Capacity building, Sustenance, Logistics, and Equipment.

"For this meeting to be on target on its objectives I trust we conclude lending practical support to Somali national security forces along the following administrative and operational equipment to be elaborated on by other participants including the Somali delegation, namely capacity building, sustenance, logistics and equipment," said the commissioner.

To achieve the objective of the meeting and to support Somalia, consensus should be reached in imperative for greater and more coordinated support to SNSF, sustainable support to the SNSF in meeting their administrative and operational needs, and commitment to specific financial and in kind support.

Presentations were scheduled to be made by AMISOM, TFG of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, the UN, including UNDP, and the EU on administrative and operational requirements of the Somali national army and the Somali police force.

Source: Xinhua