Mogadishu, May 24, 2014: A South African Police Officer, Anand Pillay, has been appointed Commissioner of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police for an initial tenure of one year. He takes over from Commissioner Charles Makono from Zimbabwe whose term of office ended at the end of 2012. Until his appointment, Commissioner Ben Oyo Nyeko has been acting AMISOM Police Commissioner.

Before his latest appointment, Commissioner Pillay was Cluster Commander of Milnerton Cluster in the Western Cape Province in the Republic of South Africa.  He previously served as the Police commissioner in the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).

Commissioner Pillay arrived in Mogadishu yesterday and was received by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Mahamat Saleh Annadif, together with the former Acting Police Commissioner, Mr. Ben Oyo Nyeko. Ambassador Annadif said the appointment of Commissioner Pillay would foster greater cooperation between AMISOM Police and the Somali Police Force.

Commissioner Pillay said: "I am humbled to have been appointed to this position as head of the AMISOM Police in Somalia, and I intend to fly the AMISOM flag high," he said. He is pleased for the opportunity to work closely with the Somali Police Forces, whose resilience he speaks of with high regard.

"I know that there are many challenges ahead of us that we will be dealing with, but I am confident that with the adaptable, warm-hearted forces of the AMISOM police that am humbled to lead, members who have a community-oriented approach, along with our Somali counterparts.  We will strive to support Somalia to realize long term peace and security," he added.

Commissioner Pillay is positive that the AMISOM and Somali Police forces will make a positive and progressive contribution to the stability of Somalia.

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