​Somalia: Joint security forum kicks off in the capital Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Somali government officials and AMISOM officials are holding a high-level forum on Somalia security kicked off in the capital Mogadishu on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled and AU's envoy for Somalia Francisco Madeira have officially opened the meeting at Halane compound, with the presence of  military officials from EU, U.S., and UK.

The four-day joint meeting is aimed at laying groundwork for the transitioning of Somalia’s security from the African Union Mission (AMISOM) peacekeepers to the country’s national army (SNA) forces in 2018.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Madeira emphasized the importance of equipping and facilitating the Somali national security forces, to effectively strengthen them and ensure a smooth transition.

For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia Mahdi has lauded AMISOM for its continued military support to Somalia in fight against al-Shabaab to restore peace in the country in the past ten years.

In April, the leaders of Somali Federal government and the regional administrations held a national consultative forum in Mogadishu, in which they agreed to establish of a National Security Architecture.

The Somali security forces are been prepared to provide security for the 2021 elections, after the exit of the UN-mandated African Union forces in 2018, which their operations began in the country in 2007.

GAROWEONLINE