Donors seek to enhance border security in Somalia

Saturday, September 14, 2013

advertisements

Netherlands and Britain on Friday donated $2.5 million to help strengthen Somalia's border management security to help thwart cross border incursions by militants.

A statement from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the funds will also be used to enhance the technical and human resource management capacity of Somali migration agencies.

The Netherland's Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Alain Ancion, said his country was funding the project to ensure that the Horn of Africa nation can improve its security and stability.

"The project will also support development of standardized operating procedures and the harmonization of existing institutions and legislation, which is important for promoting safe and orderly movement of people," Ancion said.

"This will eventually help generate revenue by applying best practices to visa operations and regulating passage through Somali air and sea borders."

The militants group, Al-Shabaab, has been carrying out cross- border attacks from neighboring Somalia, causing fear of insecurity as well as affecting livelihoods and the delivery of services.

The insurgents have been involved in killings, carjacking and abductions of foreigners and aid workers. Insecurity in the borderlands has led thousands of livestock herders to abandon their traditional grazing land.

In 2011, Al-Shabaab abducted the two Spanish women, Serra from Girona (Palafrugell) and Thiebaut from Madrid, both working as logisticians for MSF and took them across the border into Somalia.

The abduction was the third incident of foreigners being abducted in the East African nation which neighbors the lawless Horn of Africa nation in just over a month in October 2011.

According to aid agencies operating in Somalia, many community programs have been disrupted, notably those dealing with reproductive health, sanitation, food security and education, according to NGOs working in the region.

The UN migration agency said it will use the funds to improve the border management capacity of the Somali government and the Puntland authorities to help them to better manage migration to and through Somalia, and to improve technical data collection.

"In supporting this project, the British government aspires to further strengthen cooperation with Somalia in the field of migration," said British Ambassador to Somalia Neil Wigan.

The project was developed at the request of the Somali immigration authorities. IOM has worked closely with them implementing immigration and border management projects since 2007.

Since Kenya sent troops across the border into Somalia in October 2011, northern parts of Kenya have been hit by a series of blasts, many targeting local security forces and humanitarian workers.

Several attacks believed to have been carried out by Al-Shabaab have occurred in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa and Dadaab districts of northern Kenya even as the military captured their military bases and killed scores of them.

IOM's Capacity Building for Migration Management program in Somalia is funded by the governments of Britain, the Netherlands, US, Finland, Japan and others.

Last month, international medical charity, Medicines Sans Frontieres it has closed its humanitarian activities in Somalia due to increased insecurity on its staff.

Home
Email

Hiiraan Online