Mogadishu, Somalia – A cohort of eighty officers from the Somali Security Forces (SSF) and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) have successfully completed a specialized three-day training program on countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), a prevalent threat from insurgent groups such as Al Shabaab.
The training was conducted with the expertise of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the United Kingdom Mission Support Team (UK-MST), focusing on bolstering the SSF’s capabilities to manage IED-related dangers within the Federal Member States (FMS). Participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum that spanned IED recognition, neutralization, and investigative procedures following detonations.
Brig. Gen. Kindu Gezu, ATMIS Military Chief of Staff, underscored the significance of this initiative: “This training is a critical step forward in fulfilling ATMIS’s objective to undermine Al Shabaab, reinforcing the Somali-led endeavors towards peace and security.”
Highlighting the persistent need for vigilance, Brig. Gen. Gezu pointed out that IEDs remain Al-Shabaab’s favored instrument in their guerrilla tactics.
Justin Smith, the Chief of UNMAS, commended the enduring partnership between ATMIS, SSF, and UNMAS, which has been instrumental in empowering troops to locate and disarm numerous IEDs deployed by Al Shabaab insurgents across Somalia.
“Since 2017, our Counter-IED units have detected and dismantled 439 explosive devices, averting roughly 1,756 potential fatalities,” Smith revealed. “In the past year alone, our teams have successfully intercepted and eliminated 74% of the IEDs identified as threats to ATMIS forces, preventing up to 150 casualties.”
At the training’s conclusion, ATMIS Military Chief Engineer, Col. Suleiman Ibrahim, called for a unified approach to combat the IED threat effectively, which endangers lives, infrastructure, and humanitarian operations.
Col. Adan Abdullahi Ali, Chief Engineer of the Somali National Army, expressed his appreciation for the support from ATMIS, UNMAS, and UK-MST, which has equipped the SSF with essential skills and resources vital for maintaining peace and stability in Somalia.
The workshop’s theme, ‘Working towards a sustainable SSF Counter-IED capacity development in preparation for the Somalia security transition’, encapsulated the event’s goal to foster a resilient and self-sufficient SSF in the face of evolving security challenges.
Discussions during the training addressed the landscape of IED threats in Somalia, the Somali National Army’s evaluations, and the current counter-IED strategies in operation.
UNMAS and ATMIS are committed to continuing their collaborative efforts to enhance the SSF’s proficiency in detecting and neutralizing IEDs, safeguarding civilian populations from these hidden dangers.
