The Somalia police force marked its 69th anniversary yesterday (December 20th) in the capital Mogadishu with a ceremony at the General Kahiya police training school. Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon and other ministers attended.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mohamat Annadif, reaffirmed AMISOM's commitment to enhance the capacity of the Somali Police Force, founded in 1943 and now being rebuilt. AMISOM's police component has been helping to reconstitute the force and to train its personnel.

AMISOM recently deployed two Formed Police Units to help provide improved security in liberated areas through Public Order Management including joint patrols together with the Somali Police Force, provision of security to VIPs, individuals and properties. Ambassador Annadif said "without strong and enduring rule of law and public order there is no lasting peace; the Somali Police Force is playing and will continue to play an integral part in Somalia's recovery."

AMISOM currently deploys 363 police officers drawn from different African countries, and has carried out training for nearly a third of the Somali Police Force's 5000 officers, training new recruits as well as running courses in traffic management and criminal investigation techniques.