Hiiraan Online
Tuesday February 27, 2018
demonstration of an Unmanned Aervial Surveilance Vehicle by US officials in Baledogle, Somalia, on February 26, 2018. AMISOM Photo
MOGADISHU (HOL) - The United States government on Monday donated Aerial Surveillance System to African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
In a handing over ceremony, Martin Dale, the Charge d'Affairs of U.S mission to Somalia presented the equipment to AMISOM.
Speaking at the event, Special Representative of African Union Chairperson (SRCC) Francisco Madeira has commended U.S. government for its continued support to AMISOM in its fight against terrorism.
“It (the aerial surveillance system) is of critical importance to AMISOM forces as it will go a long way in addressing one of AMISOM’s capability shortfalls. What we are launching today is a force enabler, which we have been requesting for, over a period of time, which has now come to fruition,” Madiera said.
Madeira noted that the platform will provide troops with much needed real-time intelligence, which will help detect and monitor armed groups.
He appealed to other development partners to emulate the U.S., which not only supports AMISOM troops but also the Somali National Army ( SNA).
"We are being empowered this way but it is important that Somalis themselves are empowered; because we and the Somali National Security Forces are like two sides of a coin. We might be strong; but if the Somalis are not strong, it won't work," he observed.
For his part, Dale reiterated the commitment of the U.S government to helping AU, troop-contributing countries and the cause for peace in Somalia.
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, is shown an Unmanned Aervial Surveilance Vehicle by a US official in Baledogle, Somalia, on February 26, 2018. AMISOM Photo
"We are here to facilitate not only the safety of your troops ( AMISOM troops) but also to help put increasing pressure on the terrorists so that the people of Somalia can have a better life. Now is the time for everybody to work together in unison. we all need to be working together to facilitate increasing pressure," Dale said.
AMISOM has been fighting in Somalia in 2007 in support of the internationally-backed federal government.
AMISOM is currently implementing a UN Security Council Resolution that was passed in August 2017 that authorizes a troop draw-down and transferring security responsibilities to the Somali government.