The European Union Training Mission Somalia (EUTM Somalia) have today welcomed a new group of Somali trainees.

With the support of the United States, 125 Somali troops have been transferred from Mogadishu to Bihanga Training Camp (BTC) in Uganda where they will receive training from the European Union Training Mission Somalia and its partner Ugandan People’s Defence Forces.

Today, as part of its new Mandate EUTM Somalia saw the arrival of one hundred and twenty five (125) Somali men and women who will form the EUTM 5th Training Intake.

These personnel will undergo specialist military training over the next four months. EUTM Somalia will deliver Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) course, Military Police and Senior Leadership Training to Somali Officers and soldiers, many of whom previously completed their basic training in BTC.

This is the first of two specialist training cycles to be delivered this year by EUTM Somalia in Bihanga Training Camp. These training cycles will be run by trainer teams from, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

The primary objective of the reoriented and more specialized activities is to build on EUTM Somalia’s achievements to date and to address the most relevant capacity shortfalls within the Somalia National Armed Forces. In parallel to specialist training activities in Bihanga Training Camp, EUTM Somalia will commence Mentoring and Advisory activities in Mogadishu. These activities will include strategic level advice to Somali authorities within the Security Institutions (Ministry of Defence and General Staff), support and advice on Security Sector Development, as well as specific mentoring, advice and capacity building in the training domain.
 

The second half of 2012 was a turning point for Somalia's political transition: Following the adoption of a Provisional Constitution by a National Constituent Assembly on 1 August, on 20 August, the new Federal Somali Parliament was inaugurated. A month later, the new Parliament elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Finally, the new Somali government of 10 ministers received the Parliament's vote of confidence in November 2012.
 

Citizens, women are said to bear a disproportionate burden of its effects, especially in a society where if the constitution of 1979 provided guarantees of social, cultural and political rights, including equality of the sexes, human rights monitors have periodically reported that guarantees of constitutional rights have not been enforced. And Somalia has been considered as one of the worst place for women since years.
 

 Read More
 

On the 28th January 2013, with legal effect from 1st February 2013, Mission Commander Handover ceremony between Col. Michael BEARY (IR) and Brigadier General Gerald AHERNE (IR) took place, following a recent 2 years extension of the mandate approved by the European Union Council.

The parade took place at 1230, at the Main Headquarters in Kampala (UGANDA), in the presence of H.E. Roberto RIDOLFI, Head of Delegation of the European Union Delegation to Uganda, UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Force) and local authorities.

Col. Michael BEARY handed over his assignment of EU Mission Commander after more than seventeen months of activity and having successfully completed the second mandate of the mission.

Col. Michael BEARY, addressing to EUTM Somalia members: “My final word is a special note of gratitude to the men and women who serve with EUTM leaving their families and friends at home to help bring a small improvement to the lives of ordinary Somalis. Those men and women from 12 Members States and Serbia provide the essential evidence for me to claim our mission has been achieved”.

Brigadier General Gerald AHERNE, incoming Mission Commander, took up the challenge of the third mandate: specialist training in Bihanga and the establishment of a permanent presence of personnel in Mogadishu (SOMALIA). These personnel will have the task of conducting political and strategic advice to the Somali Ministry of Defence and the Chief of Defence forces, advice on security sector development as well as providing specialised military training and mentoring in the training domain.

In his speech Brig. Gen. Gerald AHERNE, addressing the assembled personnel and guests, said: “I publicly acclaim the undoubted achievements realized during the second Mandate by all personnel who have served EUTM during this Mandate, here in Uganda, Nairobi, and indeed in Brussels. The professional and personal qualities of those personnel has been immense, their sheer hard word and sacrifice laudable.

Colonel Beary as Mission Commander has given enlightened and decisive leadership in making that possible. Real effects of the outputs in training Somali military personnel in Bihanga are now visible on the ground there. This is directly attributable to EUTM, of which we are justifiably proud”.

In the presence of their Ambassadors, Brig. Gen. Gerald AHERNE thanked the Members States for their commitment contributing to the mission and acclaimed the input of EUTM partners, the UN, AU and the US for the logistical support, but most especially Uganda and the UPDF in particular.

Brig. Gen. Gerald AHERNE also congratulated the Somali Ambassador to Uganda, Ambassador Sayid Ahmed Sheikh Dahir on the political progress being made in Somalia.

To the members of EUTM, present and future, he said: “onwards and upwards in our noble endeavours”.