A new model for peace? China takes its Global Security Initiative to Africa

When more than two dozen officers from the Somali National Armed Forces were awarded Chinese training scholarships this month, Beijing’s ambassador to Somalia Wang Yu assured them and the rest of the country that “China will not be absent” in helping the East African country achieve peace.

Since the 1991 overthrow of president Siad Barre, Somalia has been plagued by civil war and conflict with extremist groups such as al-Shabab.

The training aims to help Somalia build a self-reliant defence force to fight al-Shabab, filling the security gaps as the African Union mission prepares for a phased withdrawal.

The military scholarship programme is the latest example of Beijing’s cooperation with Mogadishu under China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI).

Just a month earlier, another group of Somali security officials completed law enforcement, internal and border security training in China. The Chinese embassy in Somalia said the training had taken place under the security initiative, adding that “China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Somalia to implement the GSI”.

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In July, the embassy discussed anti-piracy cooperation with the Somali Police Force Coast Guard, an issue that aligns with China’s fishing interests in the region and naval anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

South China Morning Post