Somali Gendarmerie (Italian Empire)

Somali Gendarmerie
Gandarmaariiga ee Soomaaliya الدرك من الصومال Gendarmeria della Somalia
Gendarmerie war flag
Active	1960-present
Country	Somali Social Republic
Allegiance	Italian Empire
Type	Gendarmerie
Commanders
Current commander	Brig. Gen. Maxamed Sheekh Xasan
Chief of Staff	Col. Cabdi Xasan Cawaale Qeybdiid
Deputy Commander	Col. Fausto Bellinzoni

The Gendarmerie of Somalia (Somali: Gandarmaariiga ee Soomaaliya; Arabic: الدرك من الصومال, al Ddarak min al Ssumal; Italian: Gendarmeria della Somalia) is the national gendarmerie force and the law enforcement agency of the Autonomous Social Republic of Somalia. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting (including the enforcement of the Xeer), traffic control, maintaining public security, and counter-terrorism. It is under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Interior, Directorate-General of Public Security.

The Gendarmerie serves as one of the principal organs of the Somali Government. While organised at a national level, each arm reports to a Regional police authority, which in turn divides its force by local Police Divisions, headquartered at local police stations. In an emergency, the Gendarmerie can be reached by dialing 888 from any telephone in Somalia.

History

The Gendarmerie of Somalia was established on 1 December 1960, following the dissolution of the Italian African Police; the newly established Gendarmerie corps inherited about 1,200 Somali policemen and 800 Italian policemen. Shortly afterwards, the Gendarmerie absorbed the Higher Command Carabinieri.

After a transitional phase, Schools and other facilities were established by 1972. The first commander was former P.A.I. Colonel Graziano Funari, and all officers were Italian or Italian Somali.

Starting from the mid-1970s, the corps pursued a moderate "somalization" policy in order to enable indigenous officers to take the command and the management, also because the ongoing debate in Italy wether the former colonies had to be disbanded or not. The first Somali commander was Colonel Jaamac Qoorsheel, who held command from 1976 to 1979. Nevertheless, Italian Somali presence remained significant through the years.

Organization

Officers and agents of the Gendarmerie depend on their superiors. For institutional services the Corps Commands depend on government authorities having jurisdiction over the area where they are located. Those authorities, except in extraordinary cases, only turn to commanders who then give nocessarie provisions.

The organization of the Gendarmerie follows both the demographics of Somalia and the administrative divisions. Broadly speaking, the Gendarmerie has a Territorial Organization, a Mobile Organization (for riot control and armed services) and a Training Organization; some specialist units are directly attached to the General Command. The organization is closely modelled on the Carabinieri structure, with further adaptations in order to deal with scarce population density and arising security needs.

At its top, the Gendarmerie has the General Command, based in Mogadishu, led by a Commander (a Brigadier General), who is assisted by a Deputy Commander and a Chief of Staff (Colonels). The Deputy Commander leads the Specialist Units Command, which consists of: Central Investigative Group, Judicial Database, Port Police Group, Counter-Terrorism Unit and General Affairs Group.

For central administrative purposes, Somalia is divided into 19 Regions (Gobollada, singular Gobol), which in turn are subdivided into districts. In each Region there is a Gendarmerie Group, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel or, for most populated Regions, by a Colonel. Each Group has a Command, some Companies (at least one per District) and several Stations and Posts. Within Groups and Companies, both information and investigative squads and teams operate in the territories. 6 multi-regional boundaries also exist for security and tactical planning purposes; the latter's boundaries are the same of the States. Each State issues its own interpretation of the Xeer and different groups may issue their own official position; each Regional Command may be requested by the Constituent State authorities to enforce a duly issued Xeer sentence.

Police Schools are all based in Moghadishu. There are training courses dedicated to officers, inspectors and subofficers, while newly recruited troops are trained at their Group Commands; there are also technical validation courses for subofficers and specialization courses.

The Mobile organization is structured as two large Regiments with a total of ten Mobile Battalions. The 1st Gendarmerie Regiment has the headquarters in Mogadishu, while individual Battalions are based in Mogadishu, Beledweyne, Kismayo, Marka and Hobyo; the 2nd Regiment is based in Rocca Littorio, while individual Battalions are based in Rocca Littorio (also known as Gaalkacyo), Bosaso, Berbera, Boorama and Magaalada Jabuuti. Tasks entrusted to the Mobile Battalions are riot control, maintenance of public order and security and counter-insurgency.

In addition, an autonomous Helicopter Squadrons Group, directly dependent on the General Command, is based in Garoowe. In order to deal with rough terrain, sparse and semi-nomadic populations and security needs, two autonomous Long Range Patrol Companies are set up in Baidoa and in Rocca Littorio.

Personnel and training

Beginning in the early 1960s, Gendarmerie recruits have to be seventeen to twenty-five years of age, of high moral caliber, and physically fit. Upon completion of six months of training at the National Academy in Mogadishu, those who pass an examination serve two years on the force.

After the recruits complete this service, the Gendarmerie could request renewal of their contracts. Officer cadets underwent a two-years long training course that emphasized supervision of police field performance.

Ranks and Inisgnia

Cap emblem of the Somali Gendarmerie.

The Somali Gendarmerie is led by a Brigadier General; when the Italian Lieutenant General conducts his inspections and visits, he wears his Italian uniform. From a graphic point of view, the officer insignia pattern are loosely inspired to the Italian trend, with the Italian Towered Crown replaced by the Somalian seal. All officer rank insignia feature the Star insignia as basic component. As a whole, the Somali Gendarmerie is a State military corps, like the Republican Police Corps, and is part of the Italian military system, although its State is Somalia, and not the Italian Social Republic strictu sensu.

Somali Gendarmerie military officers ranks and insignia
Somali Gendarmerie rank	Sarreeye Labaad	Sarreeye	Dhame	Gaashaanle	Gaashanke Dhexe	Kornayl	Jeeneraal
Italian translation	Sottotenente	Tenente	Capitano	Maggiore	Tenente Colonnello	Colonnello	Generale
English translation	Second Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel	Brigadier General
Republican Police Corps rank	Sottotenente	Tenente	Capitano	Maggiore	Tenente Colonnello	Colonnello	Brigadier Generale
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Sottotenente	Tenente	Capitano	Maggiore	Tenente Colonnello	Colonnello	Generale di Brigata
Corresponding Army rank (British)	Second Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel	Brigadier
Shoulder board insignia

Somali Gendarmerie Subofficers ranks and insignia
Somali Gendarmerie rank	Kormeere	Madaxa Kormeere	Kormeeraha Sare
Republican Police Corps rank	Maresciallo di P.S.	Maresciallo Capo di P.S.	Maresciallo Maggiore di P.S.
Italian translation	Ispettore	Ispettore Capo	Ispettore Superiore
English translation	Inspector	Chief Inspector	Senior Inspector
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Maresciallo	Maresciallo Capo	Maresciallo Maggiore
Corresponding Army rank (British)	Warrant Officer Class Two	Warrant Officer Second Class	Warrant Officer First Class
Shoulder board insignia

Somali Gendarmerie Enlisted ranks and insignia
Somali Gendarmerie rank	Boolis	Laba-Alifle	Saajin	Saajin Waaweyn
Republican Police Corps rank	Agente	Appuntato	Vicebrigadiere	Brigadiere
English translation	Constable	Corporal	Sergeant	Sergeant Major
Italian translation	Soldato	Caporale	Sergente	Sergente Maggiore
Corresponding Army rank (Italian)	Soldato	Caporale maggiore	Sergente	Sergente Maggiore
Corresponding Army rank (British)	Private	Corporal	Sergeant	Staff Sergeant
Sleeve insignia	No insignia
Shoulder board insignia

See also

• Somali Social Republic (Italian Empire)
• Somali National Republican Guard (Italian Empire)
• Law enforcement in the Italian Empire