Mbarara, 05/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - At the heart of one of the largest camps of the Ugandan Army, just 700 km south-west of the capital, Kampala, EU instructors are continuing training of the Somali security forces. Since early May, and the launch of training within the EUTM (EU Training Mission of Somali security forces initiated in early April) (see EUROPE 10110), several hundred courses have been administered. Intensive training conducted not only by the European Union (for training the commanding officers of the future security forces) but also by the Ugandan Army (physical training and taking recruits in charge), seems to be bearing fruit after the first surprises due to the unfamiliar environment in which this first EU training mission had to operate. First of all, the EUTM set in place two targeted courses on Monday 5 July: - training for the most talented 21 people who are destined to become young officers, and another for combat training in an urban environment. Three other targeted training courses (combating improvised explosive devices or IEDs, first aid in combat, communications) will be launched in September this year. Measures are also being taken to coordinate all players contributing to training in order to ensure training for the second intake, foreseen for 1 December, begins smoothly.
The aim of the mission is to provide what will be the “backbone” of the force and to establish a “basic command chain” for the future Somali security forces, currently undergoing training (see EUROPE 10086), the mission commander, Colonel Ricardo Gonzalez Elul, said when speaking in Kampala on 1 July. For now, some 195 Somali military are receiving training as NCOs (able to command a group of ten persons), headed by Spain, during which they learn the basics of military techniques such as manipulation of weapons, follow-up of orders, pinpointing a spot on the ground/on a map, and intelligence. However, the mission did not take off without difficulties. The 250 trainees recruited in Puntland, one of the two breakaway regions of Somalia, were held back by their authorities as no agreement had been reached with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia regarding their deployment. “The initial intention was to provide the trainees for the use of the government and not for the use of the regional authorities”, said Colonel Elul, and the priorities for deployment of local authorities and of the transitional government (which prefers to focus troops around Mogadishu combat Islamic militia) are not the same. Consequently, the number of recruits initially foreseen for EUTM training (330) has been reduced and training has incurred a one-month delay. This has been “overcome by using flexibility and, at the end, the ratio between trainers and trainees is good enough to allow a more speedy training process”, the colonel said. A meeting of all stakeholders involved in training (EUTM, US State Department, African Union mission in Somalia or AMISOM, the TFG and UN) is foreseen for early September in order to share out the tasks and avoid delays being incurred in initiating training of the second intake of recruits. Coordination between the delivery of uniforms and equipment (vetting) (the cost of which is to be borne by the American side), recruitment as well as the ability to transfer and host persons recruited (which is covered by AMISOM) should be the subject of better coordination. Instructions have been given to furbish the Jazeera camp (near Mogadishu) where recruits are transferred before and after training, the colonel said, taking the view that discussions between Puntland and the TFG were well on track. The EU believes this first mission also sets an example. The knowledge of English, which is the language used by the mission, is increasingly widespread, which facilitates communication. Training techniques (for NCOs - nine, partly multinational teams) were discussed and harmonised between trainers. Teaching difficulties linked to the problem of illiteracy (out of 20 people following the officers' course, only 4 or 5 can write, according to one of the Maltese officers who took part in the mission) have been partially overcome and all recruits are now said to have the abilities required to carry out manoeuvres, several officers say. Intensive training (12 hours a day, 8 of which within the EUTM framework) has even allowed links to be formed between those already trained and trainers, and for experiences to be shared at the technical level of combat as well as at the linguistic level.
Officer training, which began on Monday 5 July, is conducted by France. Portugal will begin shortly afterwards with the administration of urban warfare classes, while the remaining military will continue to follow NCO courses until October. One observer from the Ugandan Army is attached to each of the nine training teams, responsible for taking on EUTM tasks once the latter has ended its mandate in April 2011. Germany and Italy will begin giving signals courses in September, as well as courses for protection against IEDs and first aid in combat. In parallel, the Ugandan Army provides basic training for over 800 recruits. In October, it will take on courses aimed at developing cohesiveness of all those trained. The second intake of recruits (up to 1,000 in number) is to begin training on 1 December this year. (A.By./transl.jl)