The Federal Government of Somalia and the Government of Italy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mogadishu on cooperation in police training, a move that both sides described as strengthening security cooperation and the development of law enforcement agencies.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Internal Security of Somalia, General Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag), and the Minister of the Interior of Italy, Matteo Piantedosi, during an official visit to Mogadishu.
According to a joint statement, the agreement establishes a framework for cooperation, which focuses on academic and professional training of police officers, the preparation of trainers, the exchange of experiences, study visits and the sharing of best practices.
The provisions of the agreement also include the holding of conferences, seminars, workshops, high-level training and projects to develop the expertise of the police forces of the two countries of common interest.
The two governments also agreed to establish a Joint Committee to oversee the implementation of the agreement, assess progress and plan the next phases of cooperation. This committee will be composed of representatives appointed by the relevant institutions of both countries.
The statement noted that all cooperation activities will comply with the domestic laws of both countries, international regulations and Italy’s obligations as a member of the European Union.
It was also stressed that the cooperation will respect human rights and the protection of personal data.
The agreement will be valid for a period of five years, with the possibility of renewal. The signing of the agreement comes at a time when Somalia and Italy are expanding cooperation in the areas of security, development of government institutions and capacity building of security forces.
