Hillary Sao Kanu is a senior Sierra Leonean police officer who has served as Commissioner of Police of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) since 2023.
Hillary Sao Kanu | |
|---|---|
 Hillary Sao Kanu in 2023 | |
| Commissioner of Police of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia | |
| Assumed office 2 March 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Police officer |
Life
editHillary Sao Kanu studied at the Fourah Bay College of the University of Sierra Leone and passed a bachelor's degree in Social Work.[1] In July 1992, she joined the Sierra Leone Police as an investigator and was enlisted in the special branch in 1993.[2] In 2007, she became head of the Sierra Leone Police Media Unit.[3] Between 2008 and 2009, she worked in Darfur for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission (UNAMID), where she was first a United Nations police officer then worked at the headquarters of the mission in Elfashia.[2][4]
She worked as a local unit commander in Kissy then at the Sierra Leone Police headquarters as the Director of Support Services and a police commander of the Bo District.[1][4][5] She is also the first woman to be a regional police commander.[6]
Her role for ATMIS started on 2 March 2023 with the aim to maintain security and stability in Somalia, train the local police force and provide equipment.[7][8] In July, she awarded several medals to Nigerian police officers who completed their tour.[9] She praised Sierra Leonean police officers who took part in the peace effort in Somalia during their ATMIS mission.[10][11] She oversaw various trainings for the Somali Police Force.[12] She also focuses her effort on terrorist threats such as al-Shabab.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b Kithumbu, Alex (2023-05-17). "Commissioner of Police (CP) Hillary Sao Kanu". African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ a b Media, Sierra Express (2010). "32 nabbed for drugs – Sierra Express Media". Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Massaquoi, Mohamed (30 January 2007). "Sierra Leone: New Boss for Police Media Unit". All Africa. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ a b "ATMIS Police Commissioner formally assumes office". www.somaliland.com. March 4, 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Bo Stakeholders Honour New Police IG". Global Times Newspaper. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "BO Lauds First Female Regional Police Commander". Sierraloaded. 2022-09-18. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Commissioner of Sierra Leone Police Arrives in Somalia". Sierraloaded. 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ APO Group (2023-11-09). "African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) donates Equipment to Somali Police Force". The Guardian Nigeria News. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "ATMIS honours Nigeria Police Officers for contributions to the peace and security process in Somalia". hornobserver.com. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "ATMIS lauds Sierra Leone Police officers for contribution to peace and security in Somalia". hornobserver.com. 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "Sierra Leone Police honored for Excellent Performance in Somalia". AYV News Channel. 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Ganot, Steven (2023-06-25). "African Union Trains Somali Traffic Police Ahead of Security Handover". The Media Line. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Supran, A. (2024-01-01). "ATMIS to prioritise defeating al-Shabab, strengthening Somali forces in 2024". Asian Independent. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Odyek, John (31 December 2023). "ATMIS to continue fight against Al Shabaab in Somalia". New Vision. Retrieved 2024-01-02.