IT equipment donation to help manage Somalia’s election

By Thembelihle Mkhonza On Nov 23, 2020

The equipment consists of multi-biometric scanners, high-speed laptops, desktop computers and server racks.

A black laptop sits on top of pile of brown boxes. — Some of the IT equipment donated by the African Union Mission in Somalia Police Component to the Somali Police Force in Mogadishu. Picture: AMISOM

JOHANNESBURG, November 23 (ANA) – The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has handed over IT equipment to the Somali Police Force (SPF) to help build the capacity of the National Election Security Taskforce for the upcoming national elections.

The National Election Security Taskforce is the highest security organ tasked with securing Somalia’s upcoming national elections. It is chaired by the SPF with support from AMISOM Police.

In a statement on Monday, AMISOM said the equipment donated by the Danish government consisted of multi-biometric scanners, high-speed laptops, desktop computers and server racks.

“We appreciate all this equipment and we are grateful for the assistance from AMISOM Police. Without them we would not be where we are today. We are very confident that we will be able to manage the election,” said SPF commissioner General Abdi Hassan Mohamed.

The equipment will be distributed to five offices across the country to help transmit real-time information to his office in Mogadishu.

Deputy commissioner of police Rex Dundun said that AMISOM Police had identified the need to support the National Election Security Taskforce with IT equipment in order to ensure smooth operation and to secure the upcoming elections.

“AMISOM Police component realised that the National Election Security Taskforce required some logistical capacity so as to be able to capture, store and disseminate operational and administrative information to police operatives during the election period,” Dundun said.

Dundun also promised that AMISOM Police stands ready to support the National Election Security Taskforce so that it may perform its functions efficiently and effectively during the elections.

AMISOM Police is expected to work with the SPF to provide security at venues and for election officials during the elections.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher