Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa has told all Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to remain steadfast and committed to the pacification of the troubled Horn of Africa country.
Speaking as he opened the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of AMISOM TCCs at Speke Resort Munyonyo, minister Kutesa called upon the all stakeholders to establish predictable and sustainable solutions that can safeguard the enormous successes registered by the peace keeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
“As we consider concrete steps to forge a way forward on peace and security in Somalia, as TCCs we have made enormous efforts and sacrifices to AMISOM and Somali National Army (SNA).Therefore, it is crucial that mechanisms be put in place that aim at safeguarding the enormous AMISOM success,” Kutesa said.
According to Kutesa, the progress registered by AMISOM in the last 11 years includes the liberation of 80 per cent of Somalia from the Al Shabaab; the return of international organisations including UN to Mogadishu, neutralizing the threat of piracy at sea; thriving business and holding of regular elections, among others.
The African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Ambassador Ismail Chergui, while speaking at the same function, commended all TCCs to the AMISOM and other international partners for their gradual assumption of primary security responsibility in Somalia that has registered a number of positive political developments in support of Somalia’s journey to lasting peace and security.
“A number of accomplishments have been achieved, largely aided by the political space and enabling environment created by AMISOM. For example the adoption of the National Security Architecture which provides the broad frame work to build the Somalia National Security Forces (SNSF) and the recent agreement on a roadmap on Inclusive Politics which calls for a constitutional review process, a new electoral model for universal elections by 2020, and reconciliation.” Commissioner Chergui said
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF, Gen. David Muhoozi, noted that the security of Somalia calls for collective engagement by all TCCs to the AMISOM and the Somali National Army (SNA).
Present at the function was Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Adolf Mwesige and ministers from AMISOM TCCs and the federal government of Somalia, Chiefs of Defence Forces and international partners.
