The MATE HQ which consists of Command and Support Element includes a Serbian Role 1 medical facility and a civilian Role 2 medical facility. To date the MATE HQ consists of personnel from. Finland, Italy, Ireland, Spain and the United kingdom. These will be quickly followed by an Italian Security Support Element and the initial deployment of Mentors and Advisors 

 

The President of National Federal Government, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was the guest of honour at the official launch of EUTM Somalia which was also attended by local military and civilian authorities together with considerable EU diplomatic representation.

 

Addressing a representative military body consisting of both EU and Somali personnel, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the event as a "paradigm shift in relations" between the European Union and Somalia. Mohamud said in an official statement, "Our partnership with the European Union is of immense value and has proved that recruitment from across the clans, disciplined training and effective deployment of good soldiers is totally achievable," He confirmed that "Security is the priority concern to everyone and indeed an essential prerequisite for further progress in all spheres of government and development,". "But our forces today lack critical capability and suffer a critical shortage of equipment and supplies that restrict our capacity to protect ourselves."

 

The Mission Commander Brig Gen Aherne and the EU Special Envoy to Somalia Ambassador Michele Cervone D’Urso responded on behalf of the European Union.

 

On 22nd January 2013, after the approval by the Members States, EUTM Somali received a third and completely new Mandate. As part the new Mandate EUTM Somalia will relocate activities to Mogadishu on phased basis. Specialist Training will continue in Bihanga Training Camp for now, but it is anticipated that all activities will have moved to Mogadishu by 2014.

 

EUTM Somalia personnel in Mogadishu will provide 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. 

 

The move to Mogadishu is not an objective in itself. It is the logical follow-on of a changing political landscape and the consequence of success in creating the security conditions in Mogadishu thanks to the outstanding joint commitment of AMISOM and SNAF.

 

The new Mandate implies a significant change of focus of EUTM activities towards Somalia. In accordance with Somali needs, and in full coordination with other main stakeholders (UN, AMISOM, and the AU). 

 

EU is the main donor in Somalia. EU and other countries had agreed to contribute to help Somalia rebuild its security forces so they could tackle insurgents and criminal networks.The political objective of this CSDP action is to further contribute to strengthening the SNG as a functioning government to emerge out of fragility and to empower the new institutions to serve Somali citizens.

 

EUTM Somalia deployment responds to Somali authorities’ request and is fully in line with UNSC relevant resolutions. EUTM Somalia will promote Somali ownership.

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.
 

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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”.