PRESS RELEASE 01/2011

Djibouti, 17 January 2011 – Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Somalia, Augustine P. Mahiga, today thanked the Government of Japan, UN partners and regional organizations for their support to the Transitional Federal Government at an inauguration ceremony for the training of 500 Somali police recruits. Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, were also in attendance for the event which took place at the Djibouti Police Academy.

“Restoration and sustainability of security is one of the key pillars on which the Djibouti Agreement is based. It is also one of the priority transitional tasks of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) for promoting stability, creating a wider space for political outreach and reconciliation, supporting the constitution-making process and facilitating reconstruction and development,” Ambassador Mahiga said.

Commending the Government of Djibouti for its partnership and cooperation with UNPOS, Ambassador Mahiga held up Djibouti as “an outstanding example of support by regional actors–providing a conducive political environment for the Djibouti Agreement to be implemented, including the building of institutions as well as having the unique advantage of being near Somalia, with the same culture and a common language.”

He expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for “its significant contribution of 10 million dollars to the UNPOS Trust Fund for security sector institutions, without which this new project and training would not have been possible.”

In addition to providing stipends and salary for six months, funding from the Japanese-sponsored UNPOS Police project is helping to meet the cost of equipment such as specialized police vehicles, communications equipment and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of police infrastructure in Mogadishu.

The Ambassador acknowledged the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Civil Police Unit and the Somali Police Force Senior Management Team for their efforts in making the training possible.

“Security in Somalia is one of the main challenges and we need a well-trained, disciplined force with high morale, to be able to provide sustenance to our security forces and their families and to motivate them with regular stipends,” Ambassador Mahiga said.

He said that UNPOS will continue to step up efforts to mobilize resources to pay the Somali security forces and that the UN’s international partners, including bilateral organizations such as the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United States will continue to provide support to the TFG for the development of the Security Sector in Somalia, but responsibility ultimately lies with the Government.

“The security process is a long-term one.  It is one of the essential tasks of the TFG to gain legitimacy, trust and credibility of its citizens as well as the international community.  At the end of the day, it is up to the TFG to take up the ownership and the responsibility for its own country.”

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Source: UNPOS