Ahead of AMISOM' mandate expiry, top AU envoy visits Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A top African Union [AU] envoy is in a three-day official visit to Somalia which ends on Monday [today], just a few days before the expiry of the mandate given to the African Union Mission Forces [AMISOM], who has been critical in improving Somalia's security.

For over a decade, AMISOM has been one of the critical security teams in Somalia, helping to foster peace besides keeping Al-Shabaab militants at bay. The Al-Qaida linked group first struct in the Horn of Africa nation in 2007.

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, who is the AU Commissioner for Political, Peace and Security is accompanied by top officials in AMISOM and has since held a meeting with various government officials, electoral teams, Civil Society, Goodwill Ambassadors and representatives from Troop and Police Contributing Countries.

In a meeting held earlier on Sunday, Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation Abdisaid Muse Ali paid tribute to AMISOM for the bravery and sacrifices made alongside the Somali Security Forces. He underlined Somalia's commitment to protecting the legacy of AMISOM.

"Received Bankole Adeoye and his delegation on a historic visit to Mogadishu at the ministry headquarters. As the AMISOM mandate comes to an end in a few weeks, I paid tribute to their sacrifices and bravery alongside the SSF. The visit also symbolized the preparations for ATMIS," he said.

"I underlined Somalia's commitment to protecting the positive legacies of AMISOM and thanked BankoleAdeoye for his leadership in creating a new chapter between Somalia and the AU. We further discussed regional dynamics and the plight of Africans affected by the conflict in Ukraine," he added.

After the expiry of the AMISOM mandate, the federal government of Somalia and the African Union have agreed to have ATMIS which will see United Nations chipping in. The mandate of ATMIS will expire after 33 months after which the Somali security forces will take over.

Later on Sunday, the delegation also held talks with President Mohamed Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble. Amb BankoleAdeoye who is on a three-day official visit to Somalia lauded the government's remarkable efforts in fighting Alshabaab during this period of elections.

AMISOM has been working closely with the government of Somalia and has close to 22,000 personnel in the Horn of Africa nation. The AU forces are credited for taking over crucial towns from Al-Shabaab, including the strategic port town of Kismayo.

GAROWE ONLINE