UN Police Advisor visits Somalia

18 Feb 2015

UN Police Advisor visits Somalia

Mogadishu – The top United Nations Police Advisor, Stefan Feller has concluded an official visit to Somalia during which he met with officials from the Federal Government, Interim Jubba Administration (IJA), the Somali National Police(SNP), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Feller was accompanied by a team of experts to review the progress and challenges in rebuilding the capacity of the Somali National Police aimed at improving policing.

Feller visited the General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu. He also witnessed training sessions conducted by the AMISOM police component, and met with the acting Somali Police commissioner and the Ministry of Interior’s strategic planning team at the Somali Police Force headquarters.

Speaking at the General Kahiye Police Academy, Feller said he was impressed by the dedication of the Somali Police officers. He added that there was a need to establish how the United Nations could together, with the African Union, collaborate and address the challenges to improve policing in Somalia.

Mohamed Hassan Barre, the police commissioner of the Interim Jubba Administration said, “We talked about the needs of Jubba police. We talked to them about the needs of our police such as renovating the stations, equipping the police and the main important issue is the salary and tools for prisons such as handcuffs, communication and transport. We talked about all those issues and the need for more support from the international community.”

At Kismayo Airport, Feller met with United Nations staff and police officials from the Interim Jubba Administration (IJA) based in the port city of Kismayo.

Speaking at the end of his visit Mr Feller said, “What we have heard here today have been very profound statements by the senior representatives of the President and the Minister of Interior, for which we are very grateful because and they made us understand the specific situation here and what these authorities need in order to pursue and make a difference for the communities here in Kismayo and in the country. So that people (then) understand how their situation is getting better through policing and through the rule of law.”