EUTM Somalia Trainees Prepare as Infantry Companies On Monday 21 November 2011, the “COURSE OPENING PARADE” of the third Somali intake of trainees took place in BIHANGA Training Camp (BTC), in Uganda.
The trainees, newly arrived from Mogadishu, number in total 619. 366 of the Trainees will undergo basic recruit training under the leadership of the Ugandan Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), with 253 undergoing Command and Control Training under the leadership of EUTM.
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Colonel Michael Beary
On 25 January 2010, the Council agreed to set up a military mission to contribute to training of Somali security forces.
The 7 April 2010, the EU launched a military training mission in order to contribute to strengthening the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the institutions of Somalia. This support takes place within the framework of EU's comprehensive engagement in Somalia, with a view to responding to the priority needs of the Somali people and stabilising Somalia.
It is commanded by Colonel Michael Beary who succeed Colonel Ricardo Gonzalez Elul.
The training of Somali security forces has started in May 2010. This mission takes place in Uganda where Somali forces are already being trained, which also facilitate the coordination of the EU action with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The mission is conducted in close coordination with EU partners, including the TFG of Somalia, Uganda, the African Union, the United Nations and the United States of America.
On 26 April 2010, the Council reiterated the European Union strong commitment to responding to the priority needs of the Somali people and stabilizing Somalia. As part of its comprehensive approach to the situation in Somalia, the EU supports the implementation of the Djibouti Agreement.
The EU and its member states are supporting the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) to begin rebuilding security and creating an environment in which the gains of peace can be realised. In this regard, the Council stressed the importance of TFG’s ownership and welcomed the TFG’s commitment to this process.
The Council stressed that EUTM Somalia should be considered as part of a wider EU and international engagement towards Somalia. It expressed its satisfaction with the close cooperation that has been established with key partners in this common endeavour, in particular with Uganda, the African Union, AMISOM, the United Nations and the United States. It welcomed the significant progress made so far, and underlined the importance of ensuring that the wider conditions continue to be put in place for the effective and sustainable contribution of EUTM trainees to the Somali security forces and the stabilisation of Somalia.
On 21 March 2011, the EU recalled that there can be no purely military solution to the crisis in Somalia. The EU reaffirms its support for AMISOM and praises the commitment and bravery of the AMISOM peacekeeping troops who, together with the security forces of the TFG, have paid a heavy toll to help build security for the Somali people. The EU underlined that such support must be matched by complementary political efforts by the TFG, including initiatives to demonstrate peace dividends to people in safe areas. Considerations on future engagement in the framework of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), including the EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Uganda, will depend on the political context, satisfactory progress on a command and control structure, and on the evaluation of the reintegration of the first batch of trainees.
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