An Cosantóir

18 | A Small Contingent delivering A Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1872, reflect- ing world opinion that the situation in Somalia constituted a serious threat to peace and security in the region, seismic change has already been witnessed in the Horn of Africa. On August 2nd 2012 the Somali Transitional Federal Gov- look at what this important EU initiative has achieved since its inception. Although it was only as recently as May 2009 that the UN s a highly successful period of Defence Forces-led control of the second mandate of EUTM Somalia, under Colonel Michael Beary, comes to a close it is timely to Big Results ernment (TFG) achieved a major goal when the Constitu- ent Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt a provisional constitution that will provide the legal framework to govern Somalia. This huge step forward offers fresh hope for Somalia's long-suffering people, beaten down by famine and looting, and exhausted by an endless spiral of violence. The subsequent progress to date has witnessed the new Somali parliament BY COMDT CATHAL ESLER (VISITS & PROTOCOL OFFICER, EUTM SOMALIA, KAMPALA HQ) mon Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) has played a leading role in improving the situation in Somalia. It has been respon- sible for a series of important initiatives, including EUTM Soma- lia, the military training mission currently deployed in Uganda. As the mission approaches the end of its second mandate it is an appropriate moment to re- view its achievements to date. While it can often be difficult enormous and the assistance it has provided in helping this strife-torn country resolve its many problems so extensive, that there are now encouraging signs of a returning stability in the new Somalia. Together with the United Nations, the African Union, the United States, and the European Union, the country has been part of a unique partnership that is finally beginning to provide protection to the Somali people and other members of the international community from harassment by armed gangs and terrorist groups. The comprehensive approach adopted by the EU in its Com- elect the country's inaugural president, who in turn appointed a prime minister. These are major milestones in a political devolvement that will hopefully relegate the TFG to a footnote in history. The commitment of the international community has been to measure the success of a mission, in the case of EUTM Somalia the task appears simple enough. Its very title, European Union Training Mission, makes it clear that training is at the very heart of the undertaking and its primary purpose. In that case, what have been the real outputs? How many soldiers of the Somali National Security Forces have been trained by the men and women of the EUTM contingent? Since 2010, approximately 2,400 Somali recruits have completed their training at a military camp in Bihanga, An Cosantóir November 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie

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