MOGADISHU (SD) – About 49 newly recruited female police officer have been dispatched to Turkey for special training ahead of the country parliamentary and presidential elections.
The horn of Africa nation plans to hold elections from this month. According to the security plan released the office of the premier, Somali forces and African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) will take the responsibility to secure the elections.
Somali government on Monday held a farewell ceremony at Aden International Airport on Monday for the first all-female recruit class.
According to the police officials, the recruits will be part of the country’s Haramcad (Cheetah) Special Police Unit.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Police Commissioner, Brig. Gen Zakia Hussein said the all-female special forces unit will play very important role restoring peace in the country.
“It warms my heart to learn that an entire class of women will join me. I hope that we will be each other’s support system. There are a lot of problems that Somali women face in our society – from rape, kidnapping and forced marriages – Somali women will be able to sleep well at night knowing that there is an entire unit of females that can support them,” Gen. Hussein.
Somali Police Commissioner, Abdi Hassan Mohamed Hijar, told the female recruits that they were joining a new team and urged them to get to know each other well during training.
Hijar said the recruits were selected based on their performance at the General Kahiye Police Academy.
Turkey has been a reliable partner in rebuilding Somalia across all sectors and has been a crucial strategic partner in training and equipping Somali troops, particularly the Gorgor Commando Brigade of the national army and the Haramcad (Cheetah) Special Police Unit.
Categories: Latest News, Somalia