The United States Special Representative to the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council respectively, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has applauded UPDF’s efforts in Somalia.
Ambassador Thomas – Greenfield extended USA’s appreciation to Uganda and her Sector 1 UPDF-ATMIS Contingent in Somalia for supporting Somali Security Forces (SSF) beyond its own mandate and for evacuating casualties and the dead from the battlefield and especially in the hard-to-reach areas.
She was speaking at the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) working lunch held in her honour at the USA Embassy in Mogadishu.
She was accompanied by the United States Ambassador to Somalia; H.E Larry Andre as well as the Technical Team from the United States Mission in New York.
The meeting was also attended by Ambassador El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to Somalia, Ambassador Thomas Kipkosgei Chepkuto of the Republic of Kenya to Somalia, Brig, Gen. Peter Omola; Ag. ATMIS Force Commander and UPDF Contingent Commander in Somalia and Mr Robert Mugimba; Charge D’ Affairs, at the Uganda High Commission in Somalia.
The meeting discussed the following issues; Somali Security Forces/Somali National Army (SSF/SNA) Force generation, Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the ATMIS drawdown Plan, Support to SSF/SNA, Financing of the ATMIS and its operations among others.
On her part, Uganda commended the United States for being a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and for supporting the ATMIS Mission and in particular Uganda Peoples Defence force in Sector 1 that secures the whole of Mogadishu and Banadir region in Somalia.
Uganda further asserted her commitment to implementing the drawdown plan of ATMIS. Uganda continues to support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) including protection of key Government installations, evacuation of casualties, and the dead from the battlefields in hard-to-reach areas as well as medical support to the wounded. UPDF troops also escort humanitarian assistance to the Internally Displaced Camps.
The meeting underscored the importance of the Coordination of Actors, gradual implementation of the CONOPS, and strategic drawdown process that would take into consideration the interests and safety of FGS and TCCs as well as partners. The meeting affirmed strengthened cooperation.
