Mogadishu -The United Kingdom Ambassador to Somalia, Charles King, commended the longstanding partnership with the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and its critical role in enhancing the capacity of the Somali Security Forces (SSF).

During a familiarisation visit to the UNSOS Movements Section at  Aden Abdulle International Airport recently, HE Ambassador King was received by the Officer in- Charge (OiC) Head of UNSOS and Director of Mission Support, Ms. Qurat-ul-Ain Sadozai, UNSOS Chief of Aviation Services, Ernest Manzano and other officials from UNSOS, SSF and the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

“Through UNSOS, we are able to provide non-lethal equipment and support to the Somali Security Forces to improve their capacity and effectiveness on the ground,” said HE Ambassador King.  He also highlighted UNSOS’ accountability, marking it as a trusted partner for the United Kingdom (UK).

HE Ambassador King, had a first-hand experience of UNSOS’ aviation operations, including the triage area, and medevac helicopters - where he witnessed the use of life-saving equipment- and engaged with Somali Aviation students about the impact of the UNSOS aviation mentorship program.

“There are many elements of capacity building that we are undertaking whether it’s communication, Information Technology (IT), and aviation. So, we are not only providing logistical support but also ensuring the transfer of logistics skills and knowledge through capacity building, this allows the Somali Security Forces to have ownership and are self-sustained in their operations,” said Ms. Sadozai.

Ms. Sadozai hailed the strong partnership with the British Government and thanked them for the support reaffirming UNSOS’ commitment to supporting the SSF and African Union troops in Somalia.

“We commend and acknowledge the bravery of the Somali Security Forces and African Union troops that has ensured Somalia’s safety and security. UNSOS will continue to provide the necessary support to bolster their operations.”

Through ‘’Operation TANGHAM,’’ the British Army donated 45 Immediate Response Packs—comprising 225 tourniquets, bandages, and chest seals, to assist UNSOS medevac teams in emergency responses.

The UK is one of the largest and most consistent contributors to the UNSOS-administered SSF Trust Fund, providing non-lethal logistical support, including food rations, fuel, casualty evacuation(casevac), communication equipment and capacity building training for the Somali Security Forces.

“The single biggest achievement that we have created in this mission is the ability to create sustainable capacity building program where we have integrated both the AUSSOM and SSF teams into one unit and they all get trained the same way,” said Manzano.