Mogadishu – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Police Commissioner Hillary Sao Kanu, on Tuesday, paid a courtesy call on the Somali Police Chief Brigadier General Sulub Ahmed Firin.
The visit was part of Commissioner of Police (CP) Kanu’s efforts to strengthen cooperation between ATMIS Police and the Somali Police Force.
“We discussed areas of mutual understanding because it’s a support toward Somali-led peace and security process,” said CP Kanu.
Since her arrival in March to serve at the helm of the police component, CP Kanu has added momentum to ATMIS’ efforts toward providing operational and capacity-building support to the Somali police component.
CP Kanu challenged the horn of African nation to take the lead initiative in ensuring the future prosperity and success of the nation is realized.
“Some of our discussions were based on strategies and how to build the capacity mainly for Training of Trainers (ToT), so that they (SPF) can take up this training process and implement it themselves,” she added.
On his part, Brig. Gen. Firin hailed ATMIS for its long-standing assistance in training and skill transfer to the Somali Police Force.
“This visit is aimed at strengthening cooperation between Somali Police Force, and ATMIS Police component as well as discussions towards undertaking new assignments,” noted Brig. Gen Firin.
He urged ATMIS Police to be proactive in developing long-term competence-based exchange programs aimed at professionalizing the SPF.
ATMIS Police is tasked with training, mentoring and advising the SPF to transform it into a credible and effective force that conforms to the international standards.
Other ATMIS Police Senior Leadership Team (SLT) present during the visit included Operations and Formed Police Unit (FPU) Coordinator, ACP Ahmed Lateef, and Training and Development Coordinator, ACP Samuel Asiedu.