MOGADISHU, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Somalia government and federal member states on Thursday signed a new agreement seeking to streamline the justice and corrections system, critical institutions shattered by over two decades of civil war.
The accord provides a framework within which the federal and state-level governments can support the rebuilding of the country's justice and corrections system.
"This agreement will enable the systematic building of justice and corrections institutions at state and federal levels and increased provision of basic justice chain services for the Somali people," said Staffan Tillander, Director of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group.
UNSOM said in a statement that its activities include supporting the country in the next phase of building a justice system that upholds judicial independence and benefits all Somalis and a humane and secure corrections system.
The UN mission said the political agreement, which is considered an important aspect of Somalia's state-building and federalization process, is the culmination of two years of technical consultations and negotiations between the Federal Government and Federal Member States.
The New Policing Model, which sets out a future structure of police services, was agreed upon in March 2016 by internal security ministers from the Federal Government and federal member states.
It was subsequently endorsed by the National Leadership Forum, and that backing was confirmed by the agreement on a national security architecture that was reached in April 2017.
"It (accord) will complement progress that has already been achieved in policing and the implementation of the New Policing Model, which has been successful in allowing international partners to identify areas to provide support," Tillander added.
According to UNSOM, the model codifies a two-tier approach for policing by state-level police services and a federal police service, with each reporting to their respective state-level and federal ministries of internal security.
Each component will be responsible for recruitment and training of police personnel, it said.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Somalia Justice Minister Hassan Hussein Haji lauded the collaborative efforts of all those involved.
"This is a victory for Somalia. It is an agreement on how we are going to organize our justice and corrections system," Haji said. Enditem
