AU forces hand over new classrooms in Somalia's Jubaland

MOGADISHU, Somalia - As part of the ongoing process to enhance the Somalia Transition Plan, the African Union Mission troops serving in Jubaland have handed over three new build classrooms in Jubaland, one of the regions worst affected by the Al-Shabaab menace within the war-torn country.

The AU contingent mainly from the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] handed over the classes to local administration on Thursday in Hosingow, one of the Forward Operating Base [FOB] within the Lower Jubba region in Somalia. This is the second time in as many months KDF is handing over classes to the local administration.

According to AMISOM, the renovation of the classes is part of Quick Impact Projects [QIPs] which ard geared towards ensuring quick but long-lasting impacts, thereby improving service delivery in the education sector to the Somali people.

Sector II Commander, Brig Paul Njema, who was elevated in February, witnessed handing over of the classes in a colorful function which was attended by teachers, students, parents, and AMISOM top officials. Songs and traditional dances were on display by locals to showcase their appreciation, AMISOM said.

Brig. Njema said the decision to support the education sector in Somalia was followed by a request by the local community during his last visit to the area, in May this year. The education sector in Somalia has been struggling for a couple of years due to inter-clan conflicts and Al-Shabaab menace.

“The three classrooms that we are inaugurating today were constructed and furnished by the KDF using contingent—owned resources under quick impact projects as part of an elaborate plan aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity in the education sector. It is a timely project that was requested by you the great people of Hosingow when I last visited here,” he said.

The KDF boss expressed optimism that the support and the continued collaboration between the community and AMISOM, will ultimately strengthen peace and security in the area, noting that AMISOM is implementing QIPs in other parts of the country.

“Similar projects are ongoing in different federal member states with the objective being to bring long-lasting peace and stability to the people of Somalia,” Brigadier Njema explained.

Abdulkadir Omar Shire, the Hosingow town administrator thanked AMISOM for its timely support saying that they are looking forward to more support to help establish a secondary school in the area. He also expressed optimism that the town will get a secondary school soon.

“Today we officially opened three new classrooms that are- standard six, seven and eight in Hosingow primary school with support from AMISOM sector two led by their commander Brigadier Paul Njema," he said.

"We also hope to establish Hosingow secondary school while cementing the foundation of the new primary school God willing,” Mr. Abdulkadir said and cited the warm reception that the soldiers had received at the event as a testimony of the appreciation by the local community.

AMISOM said the renovation of the classrooms and implementation of several projects in other areas of the country, is part of AMISOM’s Civil-Military Cooperation [CIMIC] in Somalia, aimed at strengthening relations with the local communities.

For Yusuf Farah Hassan, a traditional elder, the numerous projects implemented by AMISOM troops in Jubbaland have impacted positively on the area, opening access to services by both government and non-governmental agencies.

“Following an earlier request for support from AMISOM in the education, health and sports sector through the Sector 2 Commander, we are delighted today to see the implementation of the pledge were three classrooms, and the sports stadium for students which is in its advanced stages, as well as the local airstrip which is ready and will be of value to non-governmental organizations and federal agencies, access to the area,” he noted.

GAROWE ONLINE