Russia and France to train Somali soldiers

Russia and France will train Somali soldiers at the French base in Djibouti, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Wednesday.

Kouchner told the parliament foreign affairs commission that he made the proposal to Russia last week during his visit to Moscow and that “they will do it.�

“There will be Russians training Somali soldiers in Djibouti,� said Kouchner.

France had agreed to train a battalion of 500 Somali troops but Europe minister Pierre Lellouche has complained that it was a heavy burden for Paris to shoulder on its own.

Germany and Spain have hinted that they too may be ready to take part in the training programme to build up Somali troops and shore up Somalia’s weak government.

Somalia | Politics | |