Nineteen-year-old Samiya Mohamed dreams of becoming a pilot in a country where women in aviation are scarce.?
Ms. Mohamed¡¯s journey took a transformative turn when she enrolled in an aviation training programme for young Somalis offered by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSOS).
As an Aeronautical Information Management trainee at the Aviation and Movement Control office in Mogadishu, Mohamed exemplifies the collaborative efforts of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSOS, the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in aviation security, ramp management, air operations, medical evacuation, and meteorology.
¡°This is the best path for me to understand how to manage aviation activities and a significant step toward my dream of becoming a pilot,¡± she says.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSOS Aviation Services is empowering?the?future?generation of aviation experts by training, coaching, and mentoring Somali air personnel, Somali Special Forces, Somali Air Force, and civilian aviation students.?
During a recent visit to the Aviation Section in Mogadishu, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare said: ¡°The future does not rely on the continuation of the African Union or Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSOS. The future lies in a sovereign, secure, self-sufficient, and democratic Republic of Somalia.¡±
Somalia¡¯s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh-Ali, expressed confidence in the partnership's ability to fulfil Somalia¡¯s peacebuilding aspirations: ¡°In a few years, Somalia will be improved, particularly in aviation capabilities.¡±
¡°It is a complex field, and it¡¯s not easy to enrol in an aviation university or gain skills through the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and AU's on-the-job training,¡± he said.?
The Head of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSOS, Aisa Kacyira, stressed the importance of the partnership in transferring security and other responsibilities to the Somali government.
¡°If there is anywhere the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and the AU can make a difference, it is in Somalia because they not only speak but also follow their words with action,¡± said Ms. Kacyira.?
Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the Head of ATMIS, praised Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSOS for its capacity-building programme: ¡°We are nurturing and supporting a generation that can take over the future. We are proud of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵSOS for its contributions to this mission.¡±
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