Somalia airlifts female police officers for training in Turkey

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The federal government of Somalia has airlifted 49 female police officers for further training in Turkey, just weeks before the country holds elections, which had been derailed for a couple of months due to internal political wrangles.

From July 25, the country will start holding senatorial elections with the electioneering process set to culminate in presidential polls, scheduled for October 10. Incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is expected to fight for re-election.

Security was one of the key reasons dragging elections in the country after a host of stakeholders demanded to know measures taken to secure the exercise, which is set to be competitive due to conflicting interests from both the opposition and government.

And at Adan Adde International Airport, the 49 female police officers were base goodbye by Deputy Police Commissioner Brigadier General Zakia Hussein, who termed the decision to train female officers abroad as "historic".

"49 female officers from Special Unit of Somali Police Haramcad have departed to Turkey for further training on Monday afternoon. Somali Police Chief and officials from Turkey embassy have attended a farewell ceremony held for the officers at Mogadishu’s airport," state media reported.

"For the first time in Somalia history, we have an all-female special forces unit! Thanks to Turkish mission in Somalia for the realization of a long time dream," added Zakia Hussein, in reference to Turkey, which is a key security stakeholder in Somalia.

Turkey has been training Haramcad police officers and the Somali National Army [SNA] Gor Gor troops, who have often been criticized for their "involvement" in politics. The opposition recently accused Turkey of equipping these troops to the detriment of innocent civilians.

Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, the leader of the Wadajir party, recently accused Turkey of working closely with Farmajo to "tame" the opposition by unleashing violence on its supporters through the Haramcad and the Gor Gor special forces.

However, the government has previously strongly defended Turkish-trained troops, arguing that they have been instrumental in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants. Mogadishu further warned the opposition against politicizing security matters.

GAROWE ONLINE