The Right Path (Tubta Toosan) – Somalia

____________________________________________________________________________

Community Policing can build trust in order to Prevent Violent Extremism –

Mogadishu, 18 April 2016 – Hon Mustafa Duhulow, CVE Coordinator for Somalia and Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow) praised the efforts of Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud, Somali Police Commissioner for recruiting young graduates Community Policing Officers to overcome all the security threats in the country including preventing violent extremism in Somalia.

Hon Duhulow and Eng. Yarisow today visited the Police Academy in Mogadishu with the invitation of Somali Police Commissioner to talk to recently joined young graduates to the police, in order to consult with them on the Right Path (Tubta Toosan) programs so that Community Policing can build the trust and engage with communities with a view to Countering Violent Extremism. 3 young people from the Diaspora were amongst the recruiters.

Over 180 recently graduated students were enrolled to join Community policing officers in Somalia. Hon Duhulow said “We are grateful for the brilliant initiative from the Police Commissioner to reform Somali Police Force (SPF) by recruiting young graduates in order to build the capacity of SPF. We saw young, energetic, and committed individuals that want to protect citizens from all kinds of threats including violent extremism. Community policing are the eyes and the ears of the community, so their role is vital to prevent violent extremism and to pro-actively promote peace, cohesion, unity and partnerships.”

Hon Duhulow continued to say “Community policing can challenge misinformation by providing accurate information that can build trust and can promote accountability, transparency, family resilience and can build community capacities. Community policing can earn the trust and the respect of communities by building excellent relationships based on mutual understanding.”

Eng. Yarisow stressed the importance of police having excellent partnership with communities and the urgent need to build the trust, respect and mutual understanding. Eng. Yarisow said “We also know that while community policing and partnership helps reduce conflicts, but it is not sufficient. There must be other levels of engagement with communities and strategic programs on implementing the Right Path programs. In order to effectively address the drivers and the root causes of countering violent extremism media can play a key role in providing civic education, countering the narratives from terrorists, and avoiding to stigmatize communities through the process of preventing violent extremism. Communities have a huge role too as they are best positioned to recognize suspicious activities in their communities. When Police and communities work together, have common understanding and agenda, it will hugely boost the morale and the trust of the people that are the cornerstone of community policing. Communities will be able to come forward and work with the police when based on trust, transparency, respect, and mutual understanding.”

Hon Duhulow concluded to say that consultation meetings with key stakeholders in the community will continue with a view to establish a national comprehensive strategy on countering violent extremism in order to implement the Right Path programs in Somalia. Hon Duhulow said “We will continue to consult with all key stakeholders in the community until we finalize the national strategy by November 2016. In order for us to implement the Right Path programs we must have a comprehensive strategy that meets the needs of all communities and the Police is one of the key stakeholders in preventing violent extremism.”