The Russian government has now trained new officers for the Somali security forces, who officially graduated from the Academy of Public Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country on Friday, earning a master’s degree.
The officers specialize in public administration and strategic planning, which is a key skill for leading security agencies, developing governance, formulating policies, and planning strategies to strengthen the quality of Somali army services.
The graduation of the officers is considered a major achievement for the Somali security Force and the country as a whole, as it enhances the knowledge and leadership skills of officers who are being prepared to play a prominent role in the reconstruction and modernization of security institutions.
The event also has historical significance for Somalia, as it is the first time in nearly 40 years that Russia trained the Somali national army from the 1960s to early 1970s.
This new training will provide the Somali security leadership advanced combat leadership and skills that are necessary to manages security issues as the country is fighting terrorism and secessionist movements in the north. The current development will also pave the way to re-strengthen the traditional warm Russia-Somali relationship since the independence of Somalia in the 1960.
Russia under the Soviet Union has contributed a lot in equipping and training Somali leadership be they are civilians, doctors, engineers’ technicians, and it shaped Somalis presence in the horn of Africa. Russia also provided military support, training and equipment to the Somali National Army (SNA) .
However, since the disintegrations of the Soviet Union, Russia’s relations with Somalia faded in more than three decades, as Somali’s central government collapsed and the country fall into civil war and chaos. To re-start that old relations needs balance and strategy by the Somali leadership of today, as the new Russia is much different than the old Soviet Russia when it comes to its pragmatism.
Russia sees the international system of today as multipolar, and every state has a right to pursue its national interest in accordance with multipolarity as there is no one single dominant block that control the rules of the game. But for Somalia is in state of state-building and post-civil war era, still the Somali government doesn’t its vast territories and the primary objective of Somali leadership is restoring law and order.
Hence, Somalia needs Russia but also the current government of Somalia tries to pursue multi-dimensional foreign policy as it has indeed collaborated with US, Europe and Arabs. Here is where the balance is needed in future.
Written by: Omar Ahmed Malin