A United States government funded Maritime Training Center formally launched in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, with the attendance of senior officials.
The facility is meant to grow Somalia’s domestic capacity to protect its territorial waters, specifically due to rising problems with IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing.
The center is part of over $3 million provided by the U.S government to support Somali-led maritime capacity building programs.
The U.S Government’s State Department of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, through United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), provided funds for the construction of the training facility.
It will be used to support specialized training for Somali Police Force as well as the Department of Coast Guard.
“This training center will contribute to the Somali government’s effectiveness at carrying out that important responsibility,” said US envoy Larry Andre at inaugural event last Wednesday.
Source: Somali National News Agency