Kampala, November 8, 2024 – In a significant move to bolster regional security, the Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, concluded a working visit to Uganda on November 7th. The visit, which was a follow-up to the recent official visit of the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, aimed to further strengthen the defense cooperation between the two countries.
The Somali delegation, which included Major General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhudin, the Chief of Defense Forces of the Somali National Armed Forces, and other senior government officials, held discussions with their Ugandan counterpart, Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth, the Minister of Defense.
The meeting came on the heels of previous technical working group and Chiefs of Defense Forces engagements, during which the parties signed agreed reports.
During the discussions, the ministers exchanged views on the security situation in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region, emphasizing the need to maintain peace, security, and stability. They commended the sacrifices made by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces and Somali Security Forces in the ongoing fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
A key focus of the talks was the establishment of the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will succeed the current ATMIS mission. The ministers highlighted the importance of ensuring a smooth transition by January 1, 2025, and called for the international community to support the implementation of Somalia’s Security Development Plan to build the capabilities of the Somali Security Forces.
The ministers also welcomed the recent lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, expressing their appreciation to the country’s bilateral partners for their support in strengthening the Somali Security Forces. This, they said, presents an opportunity for Somalia to expedite the transition process and ensure the phased implementation of the Somali Security Development Plan.
The two defense leaders agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in Mogadishu from November 15-17, 2024, to further solidify their defense cooperation and address the regional security challenges.
Overall, the working visit highlighted the strong partnership between Somalia and Uganda in the pursuit of peace, security, and stability in the Horn of Africa region.
