Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa has called on all the countries currently contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to ensure that the successes registered by the peacekeeping operations are upheld.
Kutesa urged the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) and other AMISOM international partners to establish predictable and sustainable solutions that can safeguard the enormous successes registered by the peace keeping mission in Somalia.
The Minister made the remarks on Thursday while he opened the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.
“As we consider concrete steps to forge a way forward on peace and security in Somalia, as TCCs we have made enormous efforts and sacrifices to AMISOM and Somali National Army (SNA). Therefore, it is crucial that mechanisms be put in place that aim at safe guarding the enormous AMISOM success,” he added.
Kutesa pointed out some of the gains registered by AMISOM in the last 11 years including; the relocation of the Somali government and other international organizations from outside the country to Mogadishu and the liberation of more than 80% of areas previously dominated by Al-Shabaab militants.
He added that the threat of piracy at sea has since been neutralised, business is thriving, and that regular elections have been held, among others.
The Minister applauded all international partners for the support they have given to AMISOM over the years; adding that it was and still is very important for the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States to continuously pursue inclusive politics to consolidate the peace and security in that country.
The African Union Commisioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, while speaking at the same function, commended all TCC and partners for their gradual assumption of primary security responsibility in Somalia that has registered a number of positive political developments in support of Somalia’s journey to lasting peace and security.
Commissioner Smail said: “A number of accomplishments have been achieved, largely aided by the political space and enabling environment created by AMISOM.
For example the adoption of the National Security Architecture which provides the broad framework to build the Somalia National Security Forces (SNSF) and the recent agreement on a roadmap on Inclusive Politics which calls for a constitutional review process, a new electoral model for universal elections by 2020, and reconciliation.”
The Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF, Gen David Muhoozi, noted that the security of Somalia calls for collective engagement by all TCCs to the AMISOM and SNA.
Present at the function was Uganda’s Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Hon Adolf Mwesige and ministers from AMISOM TCCs and the Federal Government of Somalia, Chiefs of Defence Forces and International Partners.