Kampala Post Reporter
Monday September 17, 2018
Simon Mulongo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Amadu Kamara, the Director of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and other senior officials, look at samples of communications equipment at a workshop on Force Multiplier and Technology held in Mogadishu. Courtesy photo
MOGADISHU. The African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) will enhance its use of modern technology during the transition
period to ensure gains made in securing the country are not eroded.
The Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African
Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo, said Somalia’s
stabilization process had reached a critical stage that needed more
investment in modern technology, mainly force multipliers and enablers,
to ensure no security gaps occur during the draw down phase.
Last year, the United Nations Security Council authorized
conditions-based withdrawal of AMISOM troops and handover of security
responsibility to Somali national security forces.
The AU Mission has already withdrawn 1000 troops and more withdrawals are expected next year.
“AMISOM is in a setting that’s very complex. It’s operating in an
environment that’s very sophisticated. It requires improved and new ways
of thinking and acting. It requires improved capacity to secure the
forces when they’re moving and when in their bases,” said the DSRCC
during a recent workshop on the use of technology as a force multiplier,
held in Mogadishu.
The two-day workshop discussed how technology can be applied to
address logistical challenges faced in the battlefield and was attended
by senior officials from UNSOS and AMISOM together with police and
military focal point officers from the six Sectors.
Mr. Mulongo noted that the technology employed as force enablers and
multipliers should be sustainable if they are to make a difference in
the war against Al-Shabaab, especially during the transition period.
The director of United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS),
Amadu Kamara, called for a coherent approach in the war against
Al-Shabaab and pledged the UN agency’s continued support to AMISOM in
its efforts to secure Somalia.
“The value of technology has to be within the context of a
well-planned, thought-out and coherent approach to how we want to wage
this battle and I think this is just a small beginning and I pledge the
support of UNSOS within budgetary constraints and the realities of the
fiscal to make sure that we give full support to help our noble and
valiant AMISOM colleagues wage a winning battle,” the UNSOS director
added.
His sentiments were echoed by the director of Information
Communications and Technology Division (ICTD) at the UN headquarters,
Anthony O’Mullane, who said he was in Mogadishu to understand the
challenges AMISOM faces and the best technology to recommend.
The workshop also discussed the gaps associated with force protection
and force projection capabilities and how they can be prevented.