Saturday October 19, 2024
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is greeted with a red-carpet ceremony by Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Jeje Odongo, upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport. CREDIT Villa Somalia
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Uganda on Saturday for a working visit to reinforce the critical partnership between Somalia and Uganda. The trip highlights Somalia's ongoing efforts to build stronger ties with regional allies as the country navigates the transition from African Union forces to exercise more control of its own security.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was greeted by Uganda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Jeje Odongo. The Somali President was accompanied by Somalia's Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur.
During the visit, President Mohamud will meet with Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to discuss various issues, from bilateral relations to regional stability and security. A key focus will be the continued cooperation between the two nations as Somalia transitions from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to assume greater responsibility for its own security forces.
Uganda has played a major role in Somalia's security strategy since 2007, when it became the first country to deploy troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). With 6,223 troops currently stationed in Sector 1, covering Mogadishu and the Shabelle regions, Uganda contributes the largest contingent to the mission.
As ATMIS prepares to conclude by December 2024, both leaders are expected to discuss the establishment of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace ATMIS in 2025. Uganda has played a major role in training Somali troops. The training includes basic infantry skills, counterterrorism operations, and specialized programs. In March 2023, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud observed the graduation of Somali soldiers trained by Uganda.
AUSSOM will continue supporting Somali security forces but with a smaller contingent of around 11,000 troops, focusing on urban security and infrastructure protection.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) officially handed over the Kuday Forward Operating Base (FOB) to the Somali Security Forces (SSF) in Jubaland State on Wednesday. Kuday FOB, located in Lower Juba, has been manned by ATMIS Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) since 2015.
ATMIS has so far transferred six FOBs and reduced troop numbers by 2,000 as part of the UN and African Union-approved phase three drawdown.
According to Villa Somalia, President Mohamud is expected to visit other ATMIS troop-contributing countries in the coming days.