KEY HIGHLIGHTS
The African peacekeeping forces have stepped up training Somali government army in as part of efforts to fight the Al Shabaab militants.
The training of Somali army is of significant importance as they are the ones who will be responsible for their country’s security once mandate of AMISOM comes to an end.AMISOM training officers are equipping the Somali army will necessary training and skills primed to take charge of the fight against militant group, Al Shabaab though getting them battle-ready continues to be a struggle.
Training is being conducted in various AMISOM bases and sectors. In central Somalia, Djibouti peacekeepers serving under AMISOM command are helping train the local forces.
Lamagalay is one of the AMISOM largest military bases where Djiboutian troops have been training more than 2,000 members of the Somali National Army.
SUCCESSES & CHALLENGES
The trained Somalia army will be tasked with dislodging the Al Qaeda affiliated AlShabaab from central Somalia’s Hiiran region.
According to Tawane Ahmed Gurey, the Somali army commander for the Hiiran region, AMISOM training Somali government army is a success story citing the same forces now armed with better military skills are on the frontlines leading the fight against the terrorists,
Another AMISOM official colonel Abdurahman Abdi Dhimbil shed the light on the huge challenges Somali army is facing before they can independently safeguard their own nation.
The major challenge is that the army doesn’t have enough fighting power and resources. The forces lack proper weapons and military vehicles.
“If the forces are well trained and equipped most definitely they can play an important role in ending the Al Shabaab threat in Somalia,” said Colonel Abdurahman Abdi Dhimbil, a Djiboutian officer commanding AMISOM’s sector four in Somalia.
Nearly 2,000 recruits have been undergoing AMISOM integrated training since 2011, and many of them are stationed in Beletweyne town, the headquarters of sector four.
Other countries that contribute forces to the 22,000-strong AMISOM mission forces include Kenya, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Burundi.
