SOMALIA / MILITARY TRAINING

77 platoon commanders and non-commissioned officers with the Somali National Army are being trained by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in battle drills and weapon handling. AU / UN IST

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:12
• Production Date: 1 April 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA – AMISOM
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; DISARMAMENT
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: U130401f

Description

STORY: SOMALIA / MILITARY TRAINING
TRT: 2.12
SOURCE: AU / UN IST
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 MARCH 2013 MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Somali National Army (SNA) troops getting a brief from Major James Bua, before the training exercise
2. Med shot, Somali National Army (SNA) troops getting a brief from Major James Bua, before the training exercise
3. Close up, Somali National Army (SNA) troops getting a brief from Major James Bua, before the training exercise
4. Wide shot, Major James Bua briefing the Somali National Army (SNA) troops before the training exercises
5. Med shot, Major James Bua briefing the Somali National Army (SNA) troops before the training exercise
6. Wide shot, Somali National Army (SNA) troops walking towards the training ground
7. Wide shot, Major James Bua walking towards a Somali National Army (SNA) soldier in a defence position
8. Med shot, Major James Bua giving the Somali National Army (SNA) soldier tips on how to maintain a defensive position
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Major James Bua, Chief Instructor, AMISOM Jazeera Training Camp:
“This is exactly the way we can assess the capacity, the skills of this soldiers. All in all, they have been doing a good job; their rate of absorption has been quite impressive. Albeit we have other challenges, definitely we are going to overcome these challenges. We as AMISOM, apart from the instructional work, we are also mentors trying to show them the right things to be done.”
10. Wide shot, Somali National Army (SNA) troops as they move towards the “enemy position” during the training session
11. Wide shot, Somali National Army (SNA) troops as they simulate an attack
12. Close up, Somali National Army (SNA) soldier in a defensive position
13. Wide shot, Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers in a defensive position
14. Close up, Somali National Army (SNA) soldier crawling on the ground
15. Wide shot, Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers lying on the ground and charging
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Major James Bua, Chief Instructor, AMISOM Jazeera Training Camp:
“We have other short courses which we do run here. You had a chance of witnessing the snipers at the range over there. These are marksmen, AMISOM marksmen being taken through a three-week training programme.”
17. Wide shot, AMISOM marksmen and instructors on the ground during their target practise session
18. Wide shot, target practice boards
19. Med shot, AMISOM marksmen on the ground during their target practise session
20. Close up, AMISOM marksmen taking shots
21. Wide shot, AMISOM marksman packing up his weapon
22. Med shot, AMISOM marksman checking the target practice board

Storyline

77 platoon commanders and non-commissioned officers with the Somali National Army are being trained by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in battle drills and weapon handling.

Over the last two years, the Somali National Security Forces, with the support of AMISOM, have forced al Qaeda linked extremist group al Shabaab, out of most urban centres across south and central Somalia, enabling the country to inaugurate a new and representative political order.

AMISOM is helping to train the core of a rejuvenated Somali National Army as well as a Somali Police Force. The current course is already in its eighth week and the officers are expected to graduate in two weeks time.

SOUNDBITE (English) Major James Bua, Chief Instructor, AMISOM Jazeera Training Camp:
“This is exactly the way we can assess the capacity, the skills of this soldiers. All in all, they have been doing a good job; their rate of absorption has been quite impressive. Albeit we have other challenges, definitely we are going to overcome these challenges. We as AMISOM, apart from the instructional work, we are also mentors trying to show them the right things to be done.”

The Jazeera Training Facility is located in Mogadishu’s Wajadir district. The training centre fell into disrepair during Somalia’s civil conflicts, but has recently been refurbished with support from the European Union.

In the past, AMISOM would have to fly troops to Uganda’s Bihanga military training centre for instruction. Now, AMISOM’s soldiers are also being trained at Jazeera.

SOUNDBITE (English) Major James Bua, Chief Instructor, AMISOM Jazeera Training Camp:
“We have other short courses which we do run here. You had a chance of witnessing the snipers at the range over there. These are marksmen, AMISOM marksmen being taken through a three-week training programme.”

The Mission is also helping to build governance capacity within the Federal Government of Somalia by training civil servants, and working with local officials and civil society to enhance linkages to the central government, and strengthen relations and interactions between citizens and the state.

AMISOM is mandated to assist to re-establish and build the capacity of Somali troops under the country’s ‘National Security and Stabilization Plan’. The Plan got a boost recently, with the partial lifting of the 21-year arms embargo against Somalia, to allow for the equipping of the country’s security forces which was requested by the African Union.