Senior Police Officers Conclude Training In Mogadishu

28 senior-level officers from the Somali Police Force (SPF) have concluded a training course on Strategic Planning and Management

The workshop was facilitated by the police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the UN and local experts,

The course, the first of its kind for the force, is part of the organizational and culture change activities, being undertaken within the institution, to improve efficiency and performance, among top-level officers.

The training is meant to be instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence and enhancing professionalism in a workforce, and in turn, maximize performance and output.

According to the organisers, the training will improve the interfacing and collaboration between various departments of the Somali Police Force.

The officials, most of whom head various directorates and units within the force, will use skills acquired to implement the desired change.

“With this training, the officers acquired skills, knowledge, and attitudes, that are necessary for them to be able to rise to the occasion and professionally carry out their duties in accordance with the expectations of the Somali population, with due diligence to and observance of human rights,” said Christine Alalo, the Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner, at the conclusion of the ten-day course, in Mogadishu.

Lt. Col. Fadumo Hassan Mohamed, the SPF head of community policing, who was one of the trainees said they learnt vital leadership skills that would help them execute their duties professionally.

Participants learnt how to develop a strategic vision and mission for the police force, principles of management, strategic planning, and leadership, among other topics.

“We need a lot of catching up to do, to reach the same level with the rest of the world; and recover quickly. The knowledge you have acquired shouldn’t sit with you. You need to cascade it down and pass it on to your junior officers. That’s the essence of imparting you with such skills,” Gen. Bashir Abdi Mohamed, the Somali Police Commissioner told the course participants.

Gen. Ahmed Dayib Ahmed, the SPF head of operations described the training as timely, saying such leadership development courses boosted performance in the police hierarchy.

The Federal Minister of Interior, Mr. Mohamed Abukar Islow and the Somali deputy Police Chief,  Ms. Zakia Hussein attended the closing ceremony of the management course.