AMISOM campaigns against IEDs in Somalia

Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, presents a certificate to a female participant during the closing session of a two-day seminar on Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (CIEDs) in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 17 April 2018. AMISOM Photo / Omar Abdisalan

MOGADISHU (HOL) - African Union Mission in Somalia has called for concerted efforts to end the threat posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs.

Al-Shabab militants use landmines, Remote Control Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIED) and Vehicle Borne Explosive Device ( VBIED) to AU and Somali forces as well as hotels and civilian populated areas in Somalia.

Speaking at the opening of the fourth Bi-annual Counter IED Conference, in Mogadishu on Monday, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Francisco Madeira said the use of IEDs in Somalia presented a major threat to the country’s stabilization process.

Madeira said the use of IEDs in Somalia presented a major threat to the country’s stabilization process.

“The best way to defeat IEDs is to have our politics right. If the politics is not right, no matter how much technology we put on the ground we may not succeed, and to have politics right, will require everyone to play his or her role,” Madeira remarked.

He urged the military, the police and the Federal government of Somalia to cooperate, in order to effectively counter the indiscriminate use of the improvised explosive devices.

Richard Maundrell, the Commander of the British Forces in Somalia has urged for increased collaboration between stakeholders and security agencies in the country to rid the country of the IED menace.

“To achieve this, information sharing and coordination across these levels and organizations will be critical. While it is important to prepare the force and defeat the device, the only way the counter IED battle can be won is through proactive operations against the IED system. This will focus on the perpetrators of IED activity,” said Mr. Maundrell.

Using asymmetrical warfare, Al-Shabaab terrorists extensively engages in the use IEDs to kill and maim innocent civilians and security forces.

AMISOM, the Federal Government of Somalia and development partners are currently working on strategies to counter the threat, to ensure gains made so far, in Somalia’s stabilization are not eroded.

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