Sunday October 20, 2024
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud meets with Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye in Bujumbura as part of a regional diplomatic tour to strengthen bilateral relations and security cooperation.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Bujumbura, Burundi's capital, as part of a regional diplomatic tour to strengthen bilateral relations and security cooperation. President Hassan Sheikh held talks with his Burundian counterpart, President Évariste Ndayishimiye, at the Presidential Palace, where discussions focused on security, economic collaboration, and political alignment between the two nations.
During the meeting, President Hassan Sheikh thanked Burundi for its role in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
President Ndayishimiye commended Somalia for its recent gains in the fight against the Al-Shabaab militant group and its integration into the East African Community. He also congratulated Somalia and the United Nations for lifting the decades-long arms embargo on Somalia, calling it a "critical step" for Somali sovereignty and security.
This visit is part of a broader diplomatic initiative by President Hassan Sheikh, which began in Uganda on Saturday. In Uganda, the Somali president met with President Yoweri Museveni to discuss bilateral relations, regional stability, and security cooperation as Somalia transitions from ATMIS to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
With the drawdown of ATMIS set for December 2024, AUSSOM is expected to take over in 2025 with a smaller contingent of about 11,000 troops and will focus on maintaining urban security and protecting critical infrastructure as Somali forces take on a more prominent role.
Following his meetings in Burundi, President Hassan Sheikh's next stop is expected to be Djibouti.
This regional tour comes as the country shores up support for the transition towards long-term self-reliance in securing its territory.