Kismayo, 22 December 2016 – Hundreds of youths yesterday turned up for police recruitment exercise conducted by AMISOM and Somali Police in Kismayo.

The exercise targets to recruit 200 young men and women to undergo a three-month police training before deployment to various parts of the federal state to boost security and maintain law and order. The recruitment is part of an elaborate programme funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and is aimed at improving security in the federal states.

The first and second phases have already been completed and 400 new officers deployed to various stations in Jubbaland. The completion of the third phase will bring the total number of youths trained as police officers, in Jubbaland, to 600.
Speaking during the vetting exercise, AMISOM Police team leader, Superintendent Opara Augustus, noted that the exercise is meant to shore up the capacity of the police force in the state to effectively enforce law and order.

“We are here in Kismayo to continue with the vetting process in Jubbaland and this is the third phase. We have done phase one and phase two. We are building the capacity of the Somali Police Force in the states and we are targeting 600 police officers to undergo the training sponsored by DFID. We already have 400 of which 200 were trained under phase one and another 200 under phase two. We are targeting another 200 in this vetting process,” Dr. Opara said.

Jubbaland police officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jama Ahmed Hassan, spoke of the readiness of the state to conduct the training and thanked AMISOM for the continuous support.

“I am grateful to AMISOM police who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this phase of the vetting exercise takes place. The instructors are ready to handle this process and to conclude the training in three months. We are pleased with the logistical support and I thank Jubbaland state for this initiative which is meant to strengthen security in the state,” Lieutenant Colonel Jama noted.

Hassan Sheikh Muhamed Sahal, one of the recruits, thanked AMISOM and Somali Police for giving young people an opportunity to serve and contribute to peace and security in the country.

“I am happy to be in the third phase of the police recruitment exercise in Jubbaland. I am ready and glad to serve my country, and I am pleased with the ongoing vetting process. I pledge to defend my country and my people of Jubbaland,” Mr. Sahal said.

The youths who turned up for the vetting exercise were subjected to both physical and medical checks to ascertain their readiness to undergo the rigorous training programme. Apart from physical training, the basic policing course will also focus on human rights issues and community policing among others.