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Collar. Beary (EUTM Somalia): training Somalis, a good investment!

(BRUSSELS2) The third training session for Somali soldiers in Uganda by European forces (EUTM Somalia) is about to end. The graduation ceremony takes place on May 10. A few weeks before this new stage, B2 was able - with a colleague from Agence europe - to meet the commander of the operation.

Coming from the Irish infantry, former director of army training, Colonel Beary has been directing for almost a year this rather original mission in the European panorama: since it is a question of training, concretely, the troops and supervision of an army going to battle.

One might be surprised to see an officer from a country as committed to neutrality as Ireland directing such an operation. But that would be to forget that Ireland has always been very involved in crisis management or peacekeeping operations ". And if the army occupies only a small percentage of GDP, Ireland is in the top 3 of forces deployed abroad: 20% of soldiers serve overseas. 7 soldiers are serving in Uganda, soon to be 10 with a reinforcement from a CIS component. For him, this mission is the very example of an "inexpensive mission - maximum 125 people (*) with a budget of 4,8 million euros, for a good return". In other words, " it's a good investment “, he explains

Training of trainers has started

The principle of the mission remains the same that B2 had attended at its beginning. Ugandan forces are training recruits (about 350 during this 3rd session), Europeans are training the more specialized nuclei of companies (medical, anti-IED, communications, etc.), non-commissioned officers and officers (about 250 in all, at the 3rd session). Last evolution, the training of trainers of the army. " We started training trainers in the previous session. We are currently training 66. We always adapt with experience. »

The question of language?

For this, the Europeans are assisted by Kenyan interpreters who speak Somali. " Most of the soldiers only speak Somali, very little English or Italian. And many of them are illiterate. The language issue “is a real challenge. Several European trainers learn basic Somali. They can thus communicate at a basic education level. »

The desire to learn?

“Technically, it's not very difficult. Somalis learn quickly. They are incredibly bright. They are usually young, around 20 years old. We do not have minors and are very careful about this. (…) They sometimes surprise me with what they know. They have access to information develops Col. Beary. “It's interesting, revealing to see them give their own vision, their own reading of the field. We really hope to see the Somali army develop ».

Almost 4000 soldiers trained by Europeans and Ugandans

Most are young, generally around 20 years old and come from regions that need to be secured: especially Hawiye and Darod, from Mogadishu and the surrounding area. In the next session, there will be more recruits from the south, " to have an army made up of the different parties, the different clans that make up Somalia ". The objective of the TFG army is to have around 12.000 soldiers according to the project presented by the Chief of Staff of the Somali TFG, General Al Dini. More than 3000 soldiers and officers have already been trained in this way, the next session starts at the beginning of June. And it will accommodate around 650 students, on the same model “ than today, with the training of recruits, specialized units and trainers". They should form the hard core of « three "elite" brigades of one division ».

Le behavior in the field

Back on the ground in Somalia, the soldiers undergo a " two-month reintegration period, to get up to speed on the situation, mentored and trained by Ugandan forces who work as part of Amisom, the African Union peacekeeping force. The attrition rate remains weak. Initially, this rate was 4,6%, it has now fallen to 1,9%. We have an attrition rate very close to, or even lower than, what is happening in our countries. » One reason for this, quite pragmatic. " The soldier payment system works. They get $100 a month, that's a strong incentive " to stay. The first elements formed on the ground were moreover " well behaved" and participated in particular in the offensive led in Mogadishu to dislodge the Al-Shabaab who controlled the Bakaara market.

A repeatable experience?

The mission has a double interest. For Somalis, the Europeans provide training that no one can provide », with a diversity of experience, teaching. Trained soldiers “will provide the foundation for a disciplined and loyal force for the TFG. It also makes it possible to accomplish a significant development for the reform of the security structures” of the future Somali state. And on the European side, this training is also a “ experience " useful. "This training 'package' could be used in another theatre, for example in Sudan, if the European Union wants to do that, or elsewhere. We will not lose this experience. »

(*) This is the maximum. There are currently 121 (85 trainers and 36 support and command staff) from 12 Member States: 25 French, 16 Portuguese, 15 Germans, 14 Spaniards, 11 Italians, 10 Irish, 7 Finns, 7 Swedes, 6 Belgians, 4 Hungarians, 4 Maltese, 2 British.

Also read the file:

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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