Preparing for battle

In an effort to combat al-Qaeda militants in Somalia, the United States has been training troops from other African nations to be peacekeepers.

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April 30, 2012

Soldiers from the Uganda People's Defence Force throw plastic bottles filled with sand as they simulate grenade throwing at the Singo training facility in Kakola, Uganda.

Ben Curtis / AP

April 30, 2012

Buildings in the training camp are set up to simulate the situation the peacekeepers might find themselves in while in Somalia. The camp provides different training courses run by the U.S. Marines and also by instructors contracted by the U.S. State Department under the Africa Contingency Operations Training & Assistance program, both aimed to better prepare Ugandan soldiers heading to Somalia as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia peacekeeping operation.

Ben Curtis / AP

April 30, 2012

A mock urban setting nicknamed “Little Mogadishu” includes threatening graffiti, such as, “Death is Here! No One Leaves,” to immerse the peacekeepers into the combat experience. Washington is relying on proxy forces because Somalia has been essentially off-limits to U.S. ground troops since 1993, when Somali fighters shot down two military helicopters and killed 18 Americans in the "Black Hawk Down" debacle.

Ben Curtis / AP

April 30, 2012

Soldiers from the Uganda People's Defence Force, one holding a piece of wood representing a weapon, engage in urban operations training. The current class of 3,500 Ugandan soldiers, the biggest since the camp opened five years ago, is preparing to deploy to Somalia to join a growing international force.force comprised entirely of African troops but largely financed by Washington.

Ben Curtis / AP

April 30, 2012

Members of the Uganda army and U.S. Marines participate during training in first aid and combat operation skills at the training camp. Since 2007, the U.S. government has contributed approximately $550 million to train, equip and subsidize the African Union troops. in Somalia. The European Union and United Nations are the other major donors.

JAMES AKENA / REUTERS

April 30, 2012

U.S. Marine Sgt. Albert Winschel, right, demonstrates the use of an improvised tourniquet on fellow Marine Sgt. Preston Norton, as they instruct soldiers from the Ugandan army in medic training.

Ben Curtis / AP

April 30, 2012

Uganda army soldiers parade during their training in combat operation skills at the training camp. In February, the African Union announced plans to expand the size of the peacekeeping force from 12,000 to 18,000, and is preparing to deploy troops to southern and central Somalia for the first time.

JAMES AKENA / REUTERS

April 30, 2012

Soldiers from the Ugandan army engage in weapons training at the training camp. Ugandan officials have pledged to increase their forces in Somalia to 8,000 troops, the largest foreign contingent (Kenya and Burundi are the other major players, each contributing about 4,500 troops).

Ben Curtis / AP

April 30, 2012

Ugandan military officials said about 80 of their troops have been killed Somalia since 2007, although analysts suspect the number of casualties has been far higher. Ugandan military officials said they have had no trouble finding recruits willing to go to Somalia, despite the dangers. “It has stepped up our credibility in the region, and any soldier would be very proud to be part of the mission,” said Col. J.B. Ruhesi, the Ugandan commander of the Singo training camp.

Ben Curtis / AP

April 30, 2012

Financial incentives also play a major role in gaining recruits for the peacekeeping force. The African Union pays troops about $1,000 a month to serve in Somalia — quintuple the usual salaries for many enlisted Ugandan soldiers.

Ben Curtis / AP

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