EU trains 400 Somalis in Uganda

  1. Posted on Monday 24 May 2010 - 08:55
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    The European Union is training 400 Somali forces in Uganda as part of its support to Somali government battling Islamist insurgents. About 2,000 Somali troops are expected to be trained in western Uganda town of Bihanga. "We are expecting more to come," said EU mission public relations officer Pita Juan.
    Second AU Peacekeepers from Burundi Arrive in Somalia.
    Juan added: “However, that will depend on the things happening in Somalia.”

    This addition training support was funded by United States of America. AU has already said they expect to train 6,000 troops to take over the country’s security.

    “The military support is part of a comprehensive engagement in Somalia with a view to responding to the priority needs of the Somali people and stabilising Somalia,” said EU head of mission in Uganda, Vincent De Visscher.

    The EU will train 1,000 Somalis in the first six months while another 1000 forces will get in the next six months. The programme will end June 2011.

    Spain is leading 150 EU personnel who conduct the training under a mission named EUTM Somalia. EU has paid ¤5 million ($6 million) for the training.

    Islamist insurgents run most of southern Somalia and government controls a few areas in the capital Mogadishu, where AU sent 5,000- strong peacekeepers. Western security agencies warned that Somalia is becoming a haven for international terrorists.

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