The empowerment plan includes training of Somali forces as well as giving them material support to allow them fight the Al-Shabaab militants in the country.

The agreement was reached Friday at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where representatives from the AU and the world body met to deliberates on empowerment of Somali security sector.

The meeting was aimed at seeking coordinated support in material terms to enhance the organization capacity cohesion, professional and operational effectiveness of the Somali national security forces (SNSF), according to AU commissioner for peace and security, Ramtane Lamamra.

Lamamra said the trainings will be of beneficial to the Somalia’s national security forces as it will boost their capacity in preventing crime, and defeating Al-Shabaab militants.

He said Somali police will be provided with the necessary professional skills and equipments in order to allow them bolster security in the country and enforce the law.

The Addis Ababa meeting was attended by the AU, troop contributing countries to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), neighboring countries, the United Nations, and the European Union (EU) among others.

Somalia’s Defence minister Hussein Arab Isse represented the country for the meeting.