Sunday March 7, 2021
MOGADISHU (HOL) - The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has mourned the death of its founding ambassador Nicolas Bwakira and praised him for his role in building the foundation of the African Union sanctioned force which has been operating in Somalia for over a decade now.
“Ambassador Bwakira was a true African. In very trying circumstances, he strategically positioned the Mission for the daunting tasks it was set to perform,” AMISOM said in a statement. “This ensured the Liberation of the capital Mogadishu and the consolidation of the position of the fledgling Somali state institutions in the ensuing years.”
The mission which commands close to 20,000 troops and police in Somalia acknowledged the role which Bwakira played in the formative stages of the mission mediating between the then Transitional Federal Government and various Somali stakeholders at a time the country was battling the mergence of the Al-Shabaab militant group.
“We, the staff of AMISOM”, stand in salute and pay homage to this great son of Africa and convey our deep-felt condolences to Madame Bwakira, the children and other members of the bereaved family of Ambassador Nicolas Bwakira, to the people and the Government of Burundi, his beloved country,” AMISOM head Francisco Madeira said.
Ambassador Bwakira served as the AMISOM head between 2007 and 2009. AMISOM succeeded IGASOM which was established under the auspices of the regional bloc IGAD.
Separately, African Union Commission Moussa Faki also paid tribute the deceased diplomat.
“Ambassador Bwakira fought the good fight as a pan Africanist, international civil servant in the service of Africa and its people, especially for those in Namibia, Angola, Somalia and, more recently, the Lake Chad Basin. The quest for peace was his lifelong passion.