Wednesday March 27, 2019
Rex Dundun, the AMISOM Police Chief of Staff who is also the Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner, is welcomed by AMISOM and Somali security officers to Dhobley during the deployment of Individual Police Officers (IPO's) serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to Dhobley, Somalia on 25 March 2019. AMISOM Photo
Dhobley, – A detachment of nine
Individual Police Officers (IPOs) from the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM), have been deployed in Dhobley in the Lower Jubba
region, to embark on capacity building activities.
The AU police officers who are specialists in different fields will
work alongside Jubbaland State Police Force, to train local police and
expand their presence in the region.
“The reason for coming to Dhobley today, is to deploy the first
detachment of 9 Individual Police Officers from AMISOM, who will assist
the local police in Dhobley in developing their capacity. We are going
to do this through mentoring, training and support in infrastructural
development,” Rex Dundun, the AMISOM Police Chief of Staff, who is also
the Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner said on the arrival of the
Individual Police Officers in Dhobley yesterday.
The deployment of AMISOM Police to Dhobley is in fulfilment of the UN
Security Council Resolution 2431(2018), which calls for a reduction of
uniformed personnel and increased presence of the AU Police in the
country, to support the expansion and maintenance of law and order; as
security responsibilities transition to the Somali security forces.
Dhobley and the rest of Lower Jubba region is secured by the Kenya
Defence Forces under AMISOM.
“We are aware of the tremendous responsibility the Kenya Defence
Forces of AMISOM have, in securing Dhobley and ensuring that the area is
safe. Now is the time to build the local police capacity, so that they
can now take charge of the internal security of Dhobley and its
environs,” stated DCP Dundun who had accompanied the IPOs. He added that
AMISOM may also deploy a contingent of Formed Police Unit in the town,
to assist in joint security operations.
The AU Police Officers will be in Dhobley for the next one year,
during which they will bolster the capacity and develop substantial
police presence in the entire Lower Jubba region.
“We would like our forces to get quality world class training from
this collaboration with AMISOM. Most especially, we hope to learn skills
and benefit from the experience and expertise of AMISOM police
officers,” Col. Haybe Ahmed Abdullahi, the police commander in Dhobley
said.
The Individual Police Officers expressed keen interest in embarking on their duties.
“You know the work of the police is to protect the life and property.
So, we have come to cooperate with our brothers in the Somali Police
Force, to secure the lives of the populations” said SP Muhangi Edison,
the team leader of the IPOs.
DSP Tolulope Ipimmisho, another Individual Police Officer conveyed
optimism about the future of the Somali Police Force in general.
“We will work hand in hand with them, mentor them and help them restore peace and order,” she asserted.