The UN and Africa Union (AU) have kicked off a three-month training of 200 Somali police officers to help step up security in the Horn of Africa nation.

A statement from the Africa Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said on Wednesday the training which commenced in Jubbaland will see new recruits trained on new policing model to help stabilize the country and maintain law and order.

The training is being conducted by AMISOM Police in partnership with the Somali Police Force and the regional Interim Jubbaland Administration (IJA). It's supported by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UK Department for International Development.

"We are happy with the stage we are at today compared to where we started. We welcome AMISOM commanders and UNPOS officials who have all played an important role in commissioning this training center where 200 Jubbaland police recruits have begun training," IJA Minister of Internal Security, General Mohamed Farah Warsame said at the ceremony.

"I am hoping a second batch will follow after the passing out of this first batch. And a third batch will also follow," Warsame added.

The new model contains federal and state-level components, which will be under the respective federal and state-level ministries of internal security.

Warsame thanked AMISOM and other partners for the commitment to peace and security in Somalia and lauded AMISOM police trainers for their dedication in training and mentoring recruits.

The 200 Somali police recruits are the first batch of 600 police officers expected to be trained in the next one year and will be deployed to different parts of the region to enhance security.

AMISOM Police, in support of early recovery and stabilization, has deployed a specialized police team in Kismayo to assist IJA in rebuilding, restructuring and upgrading law enforcement infrastructure.

The AMISOM Police Commissioner Anand Pillay praised the political will demonstrated by the IJA authorities, adding that the administration's support to police reflects commitment to protect the public.

He announced that AMISOM is in the process of sourcing for funds to construct a permanent structure at the Police Training Centre, adding that the Mission would do everything possible to make the training facility a success.

Pillay challenged the recruits to be devoted and pledged support from AMISOM Police during the training program.

"We are looking forward to the 200 police officers training over the next three months. Thereafter the training will be continued by our police officers and we will support them by providing the necessary mentoring so that they can become efficient and effective police officers in the region," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2016)