MOGADISHU, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said it has donated an assortment of operational and office equipment to help boost security and improve working conditions for the Somali security forces.
The equipment included 130 handcuffs, 80 batons, 65 boxes of pens, 65 boxes of pencils, 130 rims of papers and 130 office file jackets which will be sent to the SouthWest State police stations in Afgoye, Marka, Hudur, Berdale as well as Baidoa.
"The purpose of the support is for Southwest State Police to observe Human rights in the course of their activities," Muktar Adamu, AMISOM police coordinating officer for Southwest State said in a statement issued on Monday.
Adamu said that a lot of work had gone into improving the operational efficiency of the Somali police force, noting that the AU mission has been supporting Southwest State Police in many ways.
"In February, we conducted a course of community policing for 25 police officers and at the beginning of March, we conducted a ten-day course on human rights protection for about 50 participants," Adamu said.
AMISOM police is currently constructing two police stations in Baidoa for the Somali police force in addition to training and mentoring as well as providing facilities and equipment as one way to improve work conditions and operational efficiency.
Southwest State Security Minister Isak Ali Subag said this would help the police to better serve the public and also strengthen the security of police stations in Afgoye, Marka, Hudur and Berdale.
"We appreciate AMISOM's continuous support on training, mentoring and capacity building. This will boost the capacity of the Somali Police Force (SPF), particularly of Southwest State Police," said Subag.
