Somalia

Somali police enhance professionalism with new operating procedures supported by ATMIS

ATMIS Police officers visit the Somali Police CID HQ in Mogadishu to evaluate service delivery and assist in developing departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). (Photo: SPF)

By Yunis Dekow | Saturday, June 15, 2024

The discussions addressed serious crimes like homicide, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, firearms and ammunition trafficking, illicit narcotics trafficking, piracy, financial crimes, and extortion.

Officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Somali Police Force (SPF) and African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Police met in Mogadishu to evaluate service delivery and establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at enhancing professionalism within the SPF.

During the meeting, Lt. Col. Abdirizak Mohamed Omar, acting Director of CID, expressed appreciation to ATMIS troops for their support in bolstering professionalism within the force.

Keep reading

The discussions addressed serious crimes like homicide, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, firearms and ammunition trafficking, illicit narcotics trafficking, piracy, financial crimes, and extortion, which continue to pose threats to security and sustainable development.

The SOPs are intended to foster an efficient response to major and complex crimes by boosting criminal investigators' strategic and operational capabilities, thereby enhancing efforts to combat criminal activities and formulate effective policies.

The meeting aligns with the Somalia National Security and Stabilisation Plan, focusing on critical policy issues related to security, rule of law, and justice, involving various civilian and military institutions crucial for national security.

Lt. Col. Mohamed acknowledged ATMIS for facilitating locally driven, comprehensive security sector development initiatives.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police, now known as ATMIS Police, has provided mentoring and advisory support to the SPF over the past fifteen years. Their efforts encompass training in human rights monitoring, crime prevention strategies, community policing, search procedures, and investigative techniques.

ATMIS Police's mandate includes capacity-building for SPF at both federal and regional levels through training across various policing domains, aimed at enabling them to assume full responsibility for internal security in Somalia.

Somalia is progressively assuming its security responsibilities, with the third phase of transferring security duties to Somali Security Forces commencing recently, following the successful completion of the first two phases in June 2023 and January 2024.

During the initial phases, ATMIS reduced its troop presence by 5,000 personnel and transferred control of 17 Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Phase One and 10 in Phase Two.

Before you go, how about joining our vibrant TikTok and YouTube communities for exciting video stories?

TikTok: Click here. YouTube: Click here.