Mogadishu – Fifteen military officers from the United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) recently graduated from a basic aviation and screening course, as part of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia’s (UNSOS) efforts to enhance the operational capacity of its partners, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the Somali Security Forces (SSF). The UNGU graduates will be deployed in support of Somalia’s civil aviation sector.  

The cohort, comprising 9 males and 6 females, completed a six-week programme aligned with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. 

At the graduation ceremony, UNSOS Director of Mission Support, Qurat-ul-Ain Sadozai hailed the event as a significant milestone, emphasising the Federal Government’s trust in UNSOS to strengthen Somalia’s aviation sector through collaboration. 

“This is a testament to the good collaboration and partnership that we are here today to witness; this is a unique moment, as it marks the first time in all of the UN peacekeeping missions that this is happening here,” she said.

Ms. Sadozai,  on behalf of the Assistant Secretary-General and Head of UNSOS, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, thanked UNGU for their dedication to safety and security. She reaffirmed UNSOS commitment to capacity building in support of Somalia’s peace and transition process.

The training equipped the officers with foundational knowledge of aviation security principles, focusing on safeguarding passengers, and personnel from unlawful interference. Participants learned ways to implement and enforce security measures at airports across Somalia.

Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Deputy Director, Ali Jama, praised UNSOS for advancing aviation security training and highlighted its importance in meeting global standards. He reiterated SCAA’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with UNSOS.

"Airport operations have two priorities: aviation security, followed by rescue and firefighting. Without achieving these two objectives, you cannot operate an airport; that is the standard of ICAO and Somali Civil Aviation Authority,” said Jama, representing SCAA Director General, Ahmed Moallin Hassan.

UNSOS Chief Aviation Services, Ernest Manzano, emphasised the importance of collaboration to enhance aviation security: “If we do not have security, we do not have safety; we do not have operations, we do not have anything.  All UN peacekeeping missions are driven by security, so we must always focus on it.” 

UNSOS has played a crucial role in developing aviation security (AVSEC) professionals, vital for Somalia’s fight against terrorism.   

UNGU Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Barigye, thanked UNSOS and the facilitators from Hart Nationwide for the training, encouraging graduates to effectively apply their newly acquired skills for the betterment of Somalia and the region.

“I want to thank UNSOS for the support and collaboration provided to us in all the areas. Secondly, I want to thank the trainers for their efforts. Thirdly, I want to congratulate the trainees for their tireless efforts and commitment,” said Lt. Col. Barigye.  

The graduates received ICAO-recognized certificates in essential security disciplines, including threat assessment, bomb warning procedures, emergency protocols, passenger profiling, and imposter detection, among others.