MOGADISHU, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Friday it has kicked off a two-day training on biometric registration for Somalia government staff to help spearhead the integration of pro-government militias into the national security forces.
The course which is being conducted by AMISOM Police is aimed at training officials from the ministry of internal security to acquire the necessary skills needed to register members of armed pro-government groups operating in Galmudug state in central Somalia.
"This particular exercise is being done to capacitate the officers to go to Galmudug state to also register the regional forces there," Paul Kissi Frimpong, AMISOM Police Deputy Coordinator in charge of Reform, Restructuring and Development said in a statement released in Mogadishu.
Frimpong said the pan African mission's Police decided to train Somali officers to be part of the exercise after the Federal Government requested the AU Mission's aid in registering the pro-government armed groups.
"Apart from the Somali National Army, some of these states have some security forces that have been supporting them to fight the al-Shabab. These forces are outside the SNA and (those are the ones) we are going to register," he added.
Frimpong said the exercise was part of AMISOM's plans to develop capacity of the Somali national security forces to enable it take over security responsibilities once AMISOM exits.
"We want to capacitate them (Somali officers), give them the skills to be able to assist in the ongoing exercise of registering the regional forces. As you are aware AMISOM is transitioning which means that the Somali security forces must take over all security responsibilities," said Frimpong.
The AU mission has already trained a team of officers in Jubbaland and South West states to perform the same function.
In March, AMISOM and Somali security officers commenced the registration of Darwish militia in Jubbaland to pave way for their integration into the Somali national security forces.
The Darwish militia group has been helping the Jubbaland administration fight al-Shabab militants and restore law and order.
