NR No: 050/2022 Date: 28 October 2022

STORY: AU Commission trains ATMIS personnel on protection of human rights in

armed conflict

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DATELINE: 28/OCTOBER/2022, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

AU Commission trains ATMIS personnel on protection of human rights in armed

conflict

Mogadishu, 28 October 2022 – The African Union Commission (AUC), has concluded
a five-day training to equip personnel of the African Union Transition Mission in
Somalia (ATMIS) with the necessary knowledge to ensure compliance with
international legal instruments on human rights.

The training was held under the African Union Compliance and Accountability
Framework project for peace support operations, supported by the African Union
(AU), European Union (EU and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights (UNHCR).

The ATMIS Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Diomede Ndegeya, said the training was
timely, and will help to ensure compliance with the International Humanitarian Law
and the International Human Rights Law.

“The engagement of ATMIS in asymmetric warfare has high potential risk to the
safety of civilians in its areas of operations. This heightens the need to ensure that

For more information please contact:

Snr. Communications Officer or Force Spokesperson
Ms. Gifty Bingley or Lt. Col. Abdullahi Ganale, Email: au-amisomhom@africa-union.org
Cell phone: (Somalia) +252 617 682 175/+252 613 665 356; (Nairobi) +254 722 586 005
Web: atmis-au.org | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
all personnel serving in the mission uphold the highest standards of conduct and
accountability in the implementation of their mandate,” said Lt. Gen. Ndegeya.

Acting Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission

for Somalia, Fiona Lortan, who spoke at the closing of the training, said ATMIS has
taken steps to ensure compliance with international human rights laws and
obligations pertaining to armed conflict.

“The obligations are spelt out in the ATMIS Rules of Engagement, Indirect Fire
Policy to minimize the impact of civilian casualties during military operations, Force
Commander’s directives, ATMIS standard operating procedures on the treatment of
detainees, and ATMIS zero tolerance police on sexual exploitation and abuse,”
Lortan added.

The training which was conducted by officials from AUC and UNHCR, was attended
by ATMIS civilian, military and police personnel.

Among the topics covered at the training included International Humanitarian Law,
International Human Rights Law, the protection of women, children, refugees and
internally displaced persons and all the applicable standards of conduct and
discipline.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)

Daniel Okello said that the training had enriched their knowledge on issues related to
compliance and accountability.

“We pledge that all AU peace support operations personnel shall always observe
and respect issues of compliance and accountability,” said ASP Okello.

The UN security council resolution 2628 underscores the importance of the African
Union Compliance Framework in enhancing compliance with international human
rights law and international humanitarian law.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Snr. Communications Officer or Force Spokesperson
Ms. Gifty Bingley or Lt. Col. Abdullahi Ganale, Email: au-amisomhom@africa-union.org
Cell phone: (Somalia) +252 617 682 175/+252 613 665 356; (Nairobi) +254 722 586 005
Web: atmis-au.org | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube