Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The European Union's military training mission for Somalia (EUTM Somalia) has started its first course of "Train the Trainers" at the Jazeera Training Camp in Mogadishu, the European bloc said in a statement Tuesday.
The mission began its training activities on Monday, a day after EUTM Somalia's new Mission Commander, Brigadier General Massimo Mingiardi, was joined for an official ceremony by Somalia's Deputy Minister for Defence, Abdallah Hussein Ali. This is the first training carried out in Mogadishu by EUTM Somalia since its redeployment from Uganda in December 2013.
"This event is a milestone in the history of EUTM Somalia. Having since 2010 contributed to the training of approximately 3,600 Somali soldiers in Uganda, we are now working fully on Somali soil, hand in hand with the Somali army," EU foreign policy chief was quoted as saying in the press release.
"Through training, mentoring and advising, the armies of EU Member States are bringing a significant contribution to the country's and the international community's efforts towards security in the long term and a better future for all Somalis," she added. The training will be conducted by 16 trainers - 8 from Italy, 6 from Sweden, and 2 from Hungary. The trainees will include 60 military personnel of the Somali National Army who had been previously trained by EUTM in Uganda.
The refresher course will last four weeks and will train the trainers on infantry techniques and procedures, also including elements of International Humanitarian Law and Military Ethics.
"At the end of the Course, the Somali personnel will be qualified as instructor and will train Somali National Army recmentoring of the EUTM Somalia personnel. This train-the trainer approach and the following mentoring continues to assist the Somali authorities in developing sustainable local capacities," the press release said. In 2014, EUTM Somalia plans to train and mentor in Mogadishu a total of 1,850 personnel of the Somali national defense forces. This support continues to take place within the framework of the EU's comprehensive engagement in Somalia, with a view to respond to the priority needs of the Somali people and its government as well as stabilizing Somalia.