Baidoa March 30, 2016 – Two hundred police recruits graduated yesterday after three months of training in Baidoa, the capital town of the Interim South West Administration (ISWA).
The officers will be deployed to various parts of the region to strengthen the capacity of the Interim South West Administration (ISWA) regional police force.
Speaking at the pass-out ceremony, ISWA President, Sharif Hassan Sheikh, urged the officers to serve with honor and dignity and protect the interest of Somalia and its citizens.
“Today you have been given the responsibility of maintaining peace. Your predecessors have done a good job in keeping the region safe. We want you to join them in strengthening our security further. We appreciate AMISOM for the training as well as the international partners who supported us financially,” said the ISWA President
While acknowledging structural gaps in the police force, the President assured officers of support from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the ISWA authority and the international community.
This is the second cohort of police recruits to graduate this year under the program funded by the United Kingdom, bringing the total number of graduands to 400.
The pass-out ceremony was attended by representatives from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the United Nations, the FGS, ISWA and members of the civil society.
Maj. Gen. Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud, the Somali Police Force (SPF) Commissioner reminded the new officers of their responsibility of maintaining law and order while protecting the rights of the people they serve.
He urged them to be better role models in society, adding that they were the face of the government in the eyes of the public.
“The graduates are going through a historical change from recruits to fully fledged law enforcers. The officers true character and professionalism will be known when they commence work,” said Maj. Gen. Hamud.
The Police Commissioner appealed to donors to support the force by providing the necessary equipment.
AMISOM Police Commissioner Anand Pillay, congratulated the recruits for completing the program, and urged them to respect human rights, and abide by international humanitarian laws while executing their duties.
“It is a joyous day to witness the graduation of the second batch of South West State police trainees who from today onwards will become officers in this State. This is impressive,” Commissioner Pillay said.
