At least 5 Swedish police officers began a two weeks intensive training for over 45 Gambian security officers from different security units in preparation for the United Nations and African Uniouns peace keeping mission.

The training started on Monday, and as usual, the trainees were gathered at the police headquarters in Banjul, where they were briefed on the importance of the training especially in terms of peace keeping missions.

Speaking at the start of the training session at the police headquaters in Banjul on Monday, Famara FRI Jammeh, police adviser, told the trainees that the training will equip them with the necessary skills in peace keeping operations. According to him, this is the second time that the Swedish police have offered their service to The Gambia security forces at gratis.

FRI Jammeh added that the training will provide relevant information and competencies that will boost the officers skills and experience.

He advised the Gambian officers to take the training seriously. For his part, Hakan. Svedbery, chief instructor of the Swedish police, said the training which will last for two weeks and will also prepare the officers ahead of their peace keeping missions.

He described the training as another opportunity in strengthening the already existing cooperation between the Swedish police and Gambian police force.

Chief instructor Svedbery also recalled that the first training course conducted by the Swedish police for Gambian security officers was held in December, 2007.

Momodou Gaye, Deputy inspector general of police, on behalf of the IGP Benedict Jammeh, thanked the Swedish government for granting this training opportunity to The Gambia security officers.

Deputy IGP Gaye described the peace keeping pre-deployment training as important, timely and beneficial, especially to those officers who have never gone on peace keeping missions before.

According to him, The Gambia has long been very much recognised by the international community for the excellent work they are doing in peace keeping missions, both in UN and AU, adding that he has no doubt that The Gambia being a peaceful and peace loving country has been well represented by its peace keeping contingents deployed in various mission areas throughout the world.

He expressed hope that the participants will acquire a lot from the training programme and urged them to take the training seriously.