Three hundred Somali police officers are undergoing specialized training at the General Kahiye Police Training Academy in Mogadishu, Somalia. Once they pass out, the officers will form part of the Federal Darwish Police—a special tactics unit of the Somali police force.
“At the end of this training, our police special forces including the Haramcad, Darwish and the Birmad will be fully equipped and their combined capability will constitute a major force that can secure population centers,” said the Somali Police Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Abdi Hassan Mohamed at the official opening ceremony of the training held on 6th January 2020.
The Federal Government of Somalia hopes to revive the Darwish special police unit by extensive recruitment and refresher training in 2020.
The initiative is conducted through the Joint Police Program comprising the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police component, the United Nations Police (UNPOL), the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM).
The Joint Police Program is a 5-year program led by the Federal Government of Somalia and funded by the European Union, UK Aid and the German Federal Foreign Office. The program supports increased police visibility, presence, capability and accountability and the implementation of the ‘New Policing Model’ in Somalia at Federal and State levels.
AMISOM Police Commissioner, Augustine Magnus Kailie, said such training was crucial in transforming the Somali Police Force into a capable unit that can protect the people of Somalia.
“As we have come to assist, build your capacity, you also should be standing ready to see how best you can tap from the various experiences and support you will receive so that as the Darwish especially, you will stand firm to defend the people of Somalia,” AIG Augustine Magnus said.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Police Commissioner, Meinolf Schlotmann, urged the officers to work as a team saying success of their mission hinges on unity of purpose.
“If I can give you one advice only; please work as a team and that will make you successful. If you act as a team, the output will be much greater and you will have much more success to serve your communities,” said Meinolf.
Upon completion of the training, the unit will be integrated into the Somali Police Force and deployed to all the Federal Member States of the Government of Somalia.
