Dhobley, 1 November 2024- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has enhanced public safety in Dhobley through an intensive training programme bringing together police officers and community leaders in a pioneering approach to crime prevention.
The initiative which trained thirty-six participants including 12 Somali Police Force (SPF) officers and 24 community leaders focused on critical public safety skills including station management, community policing, human trafficking and crime prevention.
ATMIS Sector Two Commander, Brig. Seif Salim Rashid, said the training transforms the approach to public safety in Dhobley and that by bringing police and community leaders together, was important to creating a more effective security network.
“It’s a huge milestone, I am confident that there will be a lot of improvement in your work and productivity. We want to see improvement in how you discharge your duties, so that the public can benefit from training you have undergone,” said Brig. Rashid during the closing ceremony.
The Dhobley District Commissioner, Hassan Abdi Hashi, highlighted the vital role of collaboration between ATMIS and SPF in addressing local policing challenges and enhancing Somalia’s security.
“Community members and law enforcement can build a stronger, more resilient community by working together to address safety and security challenges. By sharing the lessons learned from this training, we can empower our communities and create a ripple effect of positive change,” said Hashi.
The facilitators, drawn from ATMIS’ Police Training and Development Department, highlighted the programmes’ importance to improving relations between the police and community members.
“The knowledge gained will enhance your ability to conduct effective investigations and prosecutions related to human trafficking and smuggling. Additionally, it will strengthen your skills in community engagement, trust-building, and effective police station operations,” said the ATMIS Police facilitator, SSP Alex Magaize.
Another facilitator, ASP Memuna Samurah, said ATMIS’ remains committed to building the capacity of Somali police officers, in line with the mission’s mandate.
A participant, an SPF officer, Omar Abdi, said the training had been valuable.
“We have shared knowledge on how the police and communities can work together to combat crime and report safety related issues. Together, as police officers and community leaders, we are committed to safety and security,” said Abdi.
ATMIS police supports capacity-building of the Somali Police Force through specialised training, advice and mentorship to ensure a smooth transition of security responsibilities in line with ATMIS Mandate.
