The EU has approved the extension of its military train-and-advise mission (EUTM) in Somalia until 31 December 2016. The decision came during a meeting in Brussels of EU foreign ministers.

Launched in 2010 and based in Mogadishu, EUTM Somalia oversees the training of infantry, officers, and special forces, and provides strategic advice to Somalia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) on personnel management, strategic planning, and defence legislation.

With a staff of 125, it has trained some 5,000 troops so far.

Meanwhile EUCAP Nestor, the EU’s counter-piracy mission in east Africa, said it handed over six Nissan 4×4 vehicles, 25 computers, and 30 GPS devices to Somalia’s Coast Guard on 15 March to help the latter combat piracy along its coastline.

Italian military taking part to the  European Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) donated training equipment Somali soldiers attending courses hosted by the Italian contingent stationed in Mogadishu.

The equipment – according to the website of the Italian Minister of Defence – will allow basic military training, individually and by team, and training for operations of crowd control. The courses are one of many activities carried out by the Italian contingent in Somalia to strengthen the Defense structures  of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

EUTM Somalia is an EU Mission whose purpose is to strengthen the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) by developing the security sector in Somalia through training of Somali security forces.

About 78 Italian soldiers currently serve with EUTM in Somalia. The EU military mission works in close collaboration and coordination with other actors of the international community in the area of ​​operation, such as the United Nations, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United States of America.