EUTM Somalia - Europa

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2 Foreword by Mission Commander, EUTM Somalia Colonel Michael Beary Somalia continues to progress on a path toward peace and stability with the International Union supporting tentative political advances. Many challenges remain and the latter part of 2012 with the expected progression of the governmental system from a transitional body to a more long term, sustainable democratic model represents a major milestone. The European Union remains committed to assisting Somalia through many avenues but support to the security sector by assisting with the development of a new military instrument in the form of the NSF remains a fundamental part of the EU strategy to rebuild this torn country. The European Union Training Mission for Somalia concludes its second mandate during December 2012 and will have trained over 3000 soldiers, NCOs and Officers who will assist in the extension of the Somali government remit to areas outside Mogadishu. The success of the mission has demonstrated not only the synergy that the military organisations of EU member states can achieve together but also the potential of international partnership in crisis management. The United Nations, the United States, the African Union, the European Union and Uganda (the host nation for the mission) have acted in unison to help rebuild the Somali Army, each playing a defined role and each facilitating fully the inputs of their partners. I believe it would be wrong to suggest that a solution is close at hand but incremental and careful redevelopment of this military instrument, improving conditions, military infrastructure, equipment and sustainment, with regular salary payment will provide the Somali Government with the means to establish a safe and secure environment for all Somali citizens. The future looks a little brighter now for Somalia than at any point during the last twenty years of instability. Colonel Ricardo González Elul (Spain) Mission Commander - Mandate 1 Colonel Michael Beary (Ireland) Mission Commander - Mandate 2
EUROPEAN UNION TRAINING MISSION – SOMALIA HELPING SOMALIA TO ITS FEET Somalia is moving incrementally toward a more stable environment. Major challenges remain, not least of which is the ever present threat of clan-based Warlords seeking to reassert their power and influence. Other challenges include the threat of a sustained asymmetrical campaign mounted by the extreme Islamist Al Shaabab (AS), the daily evidence of which is seen on our TV screens. Famine and piracy are also major destabilising concerns with many separate agendas regarding control of relief aid and ransom demands which can derail the fragile recovery at any point. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is seeking to extend its remit throughout the country, supported by the UN, US and the EU. The African Union (AU) in particular provides direct support through the AMISOM peacekeeping force. This force, led by Ugandan Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, is fighting hard and suffering causalities in attempts to defeat AS. An ambitious three year National Security and Stabilisation Plan has now been completed to take Somalia toward stable governance following two decades of brutal conflict. The European Union In advance of a more stable environment, the institutional framework must be strengthened. The EU, while already a major contributor of finance to the region, identified the National Security Force (the approx 10,000 strong Somali Army) as one body in need of urgent restructuring support. An EU Council decision on 31st March 2010 launched EUTM Somalia under UNSCR 1872 to provide training support to the Somali Army. The Ugandan Army (UPDF) had an existing unilateral arrangement for providing basic training at Bihanga and the EU joined this effort, in partnership with Uganda. The Bihanga Training Camp (BTC) facility is extremely isolated, lying almost six hours by road to the west of Kampala. The logistic challenge is therefore immense and major infrastructural work was required to develop the camp to acceptable European standards, particularly in New trainee soldiers develop their skills terms of living accommodation and medical facilities. It now enjoys both a Role 1 and Role 2 hospital capability as well as an air strip to facilitate casualty evacuation. The education level of the Somali trainees is very low with up to 80% of an intake being illiterate, which impacts greatly on the speed of training delivery. An additional challenge is overcoming the deep-rooted Somali clan system to produce units with a mix of clans, even though the dominant clan from the Mogadishu urban area, the Hawiye, has been strongly represented to date. Training was initially focused on infantry techniques at recruit and junior leader level, but later extended to full Company level. The Somali army is bereft of a working Command and Control (C2) system and this had to be developed from scratch in Bihanga. The challenge remains to achieve well-structured units, clan balanced and adequately staffed by trained NCOs, Platoon Commanders, Company Staffs and Company Commanders. Additionally great emphasis is placed on training the Somalis to train themselves and to increase awareness of mine and IED threats (MIEDA), improve Combat Life Support (CLS), Fighting in Built Up Areas (FIBUA) and Communications. Training of each intake lasts six months, the latter part of which is dedicated to cohesion training where the formed 3
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Page 24 and 25: 22 Voxpops The voices of Never shy
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EUTM Somalia - Europa

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