Mogadishu, February 20, 2024 – Somalia and Uganda have reinforced their defense cooperation by signing an additional agreement during a visit to Mogadishu by Uganda’s Defense Minister Mr. Ssempijja Ronald.
Somalia’s Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and his Ugandan counterpart put pen to paper on the new deal which builds on an earlier defense pact agreed between the two countries in early 2022.
In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Defense said the expanded cooperation was “an important step” in terms of security and mutual support between the two nations.
The agreement comes as the Somali government plans the deployment of foreign forces to replace the African Union’s ATMIS mission which is scheduled to withdraw at the end of this year after helping to stabilize the country.
The foreign forces tapped to replace ATMIS will reportedly be tasked with protecting important centers in the capital Mogadishu for an initial period of one year.
Uganda, which contributes the largest contingent of troops to ATMIS, is expected to provide personnel for the incoming mission along with other African countries.
Somalia has been rebuilding its security forces to eventually take over responsibility for the country’s stability from international missions like ATMIS. Closer defense ties with allies like Uganda are seen as crucial in supporting Somalia’s transition process.
