The 20 Somali police officers trained in Italy by our Finance Police corps have returned home. Italian Ambassador Andrea Mazzella and Somali Finance Minister Hussein Abdi Halane were at Mogadishu airport to welcome the 20 officers, who come from Hargeisa in Somaliland, Garowe in Puntland and the capital, Mogadishu. The officers made a great success of the course organised at the Training and Specialisation centre in Orvieto with support from the Farnesina. Lessons covered a range of subjects that included the legislation governing the international movement of people, goods and services; personal defence; border controls; and anti-terrorism measures.
More Italian aid on its way
The training course is part of an Italian aid package for Somalia, which in coming days will see vehicles and uniforms arrive in the capital for the federal Somali police and armed forces. Italy is playing an important role in supporting the stabilisation process in this country in the Horn of Africa, with over 70 military personnel working in the capital in peace operations. Earlier this year, Brigadier General Massimo Mingiardi arrived in Mogadishu to lead the European Union Training Mission in Somalia.
