Residents of Dayniile district in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu, can now enjoy better policing services closer to their homes, following the renovation of a hitherto derelict district police headquarters.

The fully refurbished police building, rehabilitated with the support of the Japanese government, through AMISOM Police and the Civil Affairs Unit, was formally handed over to the Somali police authorities today. 

“We must exit (Somalia), when we have uplifted the Somali Police to a certain level of independence - in terms of capacity building and in terms of infrastructure and logistics,” said AMISOM acting Police Commissioner Ms. Christine Alalo, during the handover ceremony.

She reiterated AMISOM’s commitment to training and equipping the police force with necessary skills, to enable them improve their services across the country.

Dayniile Police Station was identified for renovation by Individual Police Officers from AMISOM, who collocate with their Somali counterparts, in various police stations across the capital, to carry out a mentorship programme.

Before its renovation, the station lacked decent sanitary facilities and office space. The refurbishment has created a humane working environment for police officers stationed at the facility.

The deputy chief of the Somali Police Force Ms. Zakia Hussein,  expressed gratitude to AMISOM for going beyond its primary duty,  to help the Somali Police Force.

“Thank you our partners AMISOM Police, not only for the help you have accorded to us,  but also in every aspect of our policing and the way you are assisting us; and the way we are working together,” said the deputy police chief.

The police station has also been fitted with solar panels to provide electricity. Additionally, Ms. Alalo donated 3,000 notebooks to the police officers to help in keeping records of incidents while in the field. The notebooks will be shared across police stations in the capital.

Other than training and mentoring police officers, AMISOM has supported the construction, renovation and upgrade of various police stations across the country, with the aim of enhancing the standards of policing.