Italy Chief of Staff of Defense Lieutenant General Claudio Graziano arrived in the Somali capital Mogadishu for an unannounced visit on Wednesday, meeting top government and military leaders.
During his one day visit, General Graziano met Somalia’s Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, Defense Minister General Abdulkadir Ali Diini and the Somali army chief.
Talks mainly concerned the military support that the Italian government has been giving the Somali national army as well military alliance.
Recently, Italy donated various military equipment to the Federal government and has been training its army.
‘’Italy has continuously supported us in rebuilding our national army and we hope that this kind of assistance will continue,’’ said the Somali Premier.
Somalia faces profound challenges reforming its security sector. Issues include an underdeveloped national command and control system, competing clan-based loyalties, limited equipment and resources, and discipline concerns.
Once one of Africa’s largest militaries under former dictator Siad Barre, toppled in 1991, Somalia’s national army was been torn apart by decades of clan rivalries and the absence of any effective government to actually serve.
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Italian Chief of Defence makes first trip to Somalia
Published: December 23, 2015
