Officers from the Somali Maritime Police have completed intensive training in Mogadishu under a United Nations-supported programme aimed at strengthening Somalia’s maritime law enforcement and improving coastal security.
The training, conducted along the Mogadishu coastline, is part of an ongoing initiative backed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia).
The programme focuses on enhancing the Somali Police Force’s (SPF) capacity to secure national waters, curb illegal maritime activities, and ensure safe navigation for commercial and humanitarian vessels.
According to the United Nations, the project forms part of a wider international effort to help Somalia protect its maritime domain and build self-reliant national institutions. The training features practical drills, maritime surveillance, and coordination exercises involving the Somali Maritime Police, port authorities, and the Somali Navy.
Colonel Bashir A. Kassim, Commander of the Somali Police Force’s Department of Coast Guard, said the initiative has greatly improved officers’ ability to respond to maritime challenges.
Improve operational effectiveness
“This support has included training programmes and technical assistance to improve our operational effectiveness at sea,” he said during an inspection of the training sessions in Mogadishu.
The UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP), which leads the project, said the Mogadishu training is part of a broader plan that includes developing infrastructure, providing patrol boats, and offering specialised courses in maritime investigation and prosecution.
The programme also supports the Somali government’s efforts to tackle crimes such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and trafficking along its 3,300-kilometre coastline.
More effective
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the United Nations Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, emphasised that improving maritime law enforcement is a crucial part of Somalia’s overall security strategy.
“This furnished and equipped base will allow the Somali Police Force to become increasingly more effective,” she said during the inauguration of a new maritime facility that will host future training and operations.
The new facility, located near Mogadishu Port, was built with support from the European Union and the United Nations.
It includes training rooms, equipment storage areas, and docking facilities for patrol boats.
UNODC also announced plans for a Phase Two Maritime Police Training Centre at Camp AAIA in Mogadishu, which will expand the force’s training capacity and operational planning capabilities.
