AMISOM to Move Beyond Mogadishu

Joint Security Committee Decides to Deploy AMISOM to Southern Regions

By SHIINE OMAR 03/14/201

 

Joint Security Meeting

After two days of meetings of the Joint Security Committee in Mogadishu, officials agreed to deploy African Union peacekeeping forces (AMISOM) in Somalia's southern and central regions beginning in April to maintain security in areas recently vacated by the al-Shabaab militant group battling for control of the country, according to officials who spoke to Somalia Report on Tuesday evening.

Officials attending the meeting included Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the special representative of United Nations Augustine Mahiga, and representatives from the African Union (AU), European Union, Somalia's regions of Puntland and Galmudug as well as the pro-government Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaa (ASWJ) militia.

"Deploying troops from the African Union to conduct operations in southern and central Somalia will help our Somali forces ensure the security of the areas that we pushed al-Shabaab from," said the prime minister.

Chief of Ugandan Defense Forces General Aronda Nyakairimi, visiting Mogadishu for the meetings, explained how it would work.

"AMISOM troops will deploy to the southern and central parts of Somalia. The first deployment shall start in April after Ethiopian troops withdraw from Baidoa and Beledweyne districts. Beledweyne town in Hiran region will be handed over to the Djiboutian forces which are part of African Union mission in Somalia and the two battalions from Uganda and Burundi will be deployed into Bay and Bakol region,” he confirmed.

General Fred Mugisha, the AMISOM force commander, said that new contribution from Sierra Leone will put the number of African Union troops up to 17,000 when they arrive 'soon' following the approval of the UN Security Council last month. In addition, Kenyan troops were recently rehatted to join AMISOM.

“Kenyan forces joined AMISOM to work with Somalia’s National Forces to liberate the port town of Kismayo, an al-Shabaab stronghold, before August 2012," said the general.

The ASWJ chairman, Professor Hirsi, who attended the meetings in Mogadishu, pledged his group's support for the mission.

"ASWJ is ready to combine their forces with the TFG if they fight al-Shabaab," Professor Hirisi told Somalia Report.



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AMISOM Troops Get Ready for Battle

TFG Minister of Interior Affairs and National Security Abdisamad Ma’allin Mohamud Sheikh Hassan also confirmed the deployment.

"The meetings were planned to ensure the security of country and we discussed ideas with officials of the African Union, United Nations including other delegates from international community to send AMISOM troops to key town recently liberated from al-Shabaab such as Beledweyne and Baidoa districts to keep the security in that area and the country. We are sure that our brothers will help out our country," said the minister.

“The delegates from international community like United States of America and Italy have pledged to support our forces to help us wipe out al-Shabaab from Somalia,” he added.

If this process of deploying AMISOM beyond the capital succeeds, many Somali residents believe that will help the Somali government regain their dignity and rebuild their country after they push al-Shabaab from the country, according to locals who spoke privately to Somalia Report.

Source : http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/3071