(22-06-23) MOGADISHU — The acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Salah Ahmed Jama, concluded a UK-supported, intensive training initiative aimed at fostering the relationship between the Somali National Army and the people it serves on Thursday in Mogadishu. The Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Jama Abdirisak Hersi, was also instrumental in the implementation of the four-day training programme.
The sessions, an Albany Associates-led initiative supported by trainers from the UK’s UK Armed Forces in Somalia, aimed to strengthen the bonds between the Somali public and the Armed Forces. Albany Associates, recognised for its expertise in providing tailored advice and training to governments, civil society organisations, and key leaders, delivered an approach adjusted to Somali local circumstances and culture.
Attended by several distinguished national and international figures, including the diplomats from UK Embassy in Somalia, the closing ceremony marked the culmination of this key initiative. The Head of the Somali National Army’s Civil-Military Coordination Department (CIMIC), Lieutenant Colonel Imaan Elman, outlined the ongoing and planned liberation operations at a parallel stabilization conference in Mogadishu.
🇬🇧 welcomed FGS Deputy PM @SalahJama’s announcement of improved coordination on stabilisation. Through reconciliation, improved access to education, healthcare & improved governance, communities should rapidly see the difference in areas liberated from the scourge of Al Shabaab. pic.twitter.com/hMsKy7uONb
— UK in Somalia🇬🇧🇸🇴 (@UKinSomalia) June 22, 2023
In concert with these efforts, a high-level Stabilisation & Early Recovery Meeting began in Mogadishu, presided over by Deputy PM Salah Ahmed Jama and Interior Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi. The gathering brought together representatives from federal and state ministries, the Special Envoy for Civilian Protection, the Somali National Army, the Disaster Management Agency, and various stabilisation partners.
Crucial to these initiatives is the UK’s unwavering support via Albany Associates, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Somalia, and the United Nations in Somalia, all committed to providing vital early recovery and stabilisation support. These efforts seek to bring about tangible improvements in the lives of those living in newly liberated areas.
These collaborative endeavours reflect the Somali Government’s determination to strengthen institutional structures and enhance national resilience, fostering unity and improving the overall security landscape in the country. The impact of these initiatives will be critical in guiding Somalia’s path forward during this significant period of transition.
