Mogadishu, Somalia – The Kingdom of Eswatini has deployed 32 police officers to Somalia to serve under the newly established African Union Support and Stabilisati0n Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), marking its first policing contribution to African Union peace support operations in the Horn of Africa nation.
The officers, drawn from Eswatini’s national police service, will integrate into the AUSSOM police component, tasked with mentoring and supporting Somali law enforcement institutions in strengthening the rule of law, building professional policing capacity, and safeguarding human rights in conflict-affected areas.
Police Commissioner William Dlamini said the deployment reflects Eswatini’s commitment to regional peace and security. “By sending our officers to Somalia, we are reaffirming our dedication to the rule of law, protection of human rights, and the principles of solidarity that underpin the African Union,” he stated.
Eswatini now becomes the seventh country contributing police personnel to Somalia, joining Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia. These nations have provided police contingents to the AU’s successive missions in Somalia—AMISOM, ATMIS, and now AUSSOM—playing a critical role in restoring stability and supporting the Somali Police Force.
AUSSOM officially replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) earlier this year with a mandate to continue supporting Somalia’s security transition over a five-year period. The mission is composed of both military and police components, with the latter focusing on building sustainable policing structures, enhancing criminal justice systems, and facilitating community security.
Somali officials welcomed Eswatini’s contribution, noting that international police support remains vital as Somalia works to establish a robust federal policing system amid ongoing security challenges posed by al-Shabab insurgents.
With the arrival of Eswatini’s contingent, AUSSOM’s police strength expands, providing additional expertise and manpower to help Somalia consolidate security gains and progress towards self-reliance in law enforcement.