Kenya to begin training Somali police force

A first batch of 200 Somali senior police officers will be flown to Kenya next month for a training program aimed at rebuilding the Horn of Africa nation's security force, Somali leader disclosed Friday.

Visiting Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf said in Nairobi that the training of the police force, which kicks off on April 6 with the first batch of 200 officers, was a move towards expediting the restoration of law and order in the country that experienced 15 years of no centralized administration.

Yusuf noted that bilateral relations between Kenya and Somalia have grown following the pivotal role that Kenya played in brokering peace in his country.

He was speaking in Nairobi during a meeting with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. During the meeting, the Somali leader requested President Kibaki to allow Kenya's ambassador to Somalia to set base within Somalia to boost the relationship and thanked Kenya for being an integral part in its reconstruction process.

President Kibaki said Kenya will continue supporting the Somali people and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia in their quest for stability in their country.

Source: Xinhua