MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Head of AMISOM, Francisco Caetano Madeira has said AU plans to launch a joint military operation with the Somali security forces.
In a meeting with Uganda’s Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), General David Muhoozi, Madeira stated that the troops would soon embark on operations to free new areas, which are currently occupied by Al-Shabaab.
“Most importantly, we need to create space for the Government to occupy and be present in much wider areas than it is currently and make sure that the checkpoints and tax collection points by Al-Shabaab are dismantled.”
Madeira said the visit by Gen. Muhoozi offers reassurance to the Mission leadership and troops.
The two leaders agreed to accelerate AMISOM’s activities and operations for the 2018-2021 period, marks the final phase of the AU Mission’s transition and eventual exit from Somalia.
“We talked about how we can move ahead in the coming times. How we can, together, implement the transition, (and) Resolution 2431 of the UN Security Council, which gives us the mandate up to May next year,” remarked Ambassador Madeira. “We both agreed that we need to continue to move together, we need to ensure that Somali troops are ready to take over from us. We need also, to make sure that Al-Shabaab is further degraded,” he said.
Mr. Madeira said Leego will be freed sooner than later and will be back into the hands of the Government/
Al-Shabaab took over control of Leego in Lower Shabelle region in August 2017, after AMISOM troops withdrew from a Forward Operating Base, situated in the area.
The town lies about 120 km southwest of Mogadishu and is of strategic importance to Somalia, because it links Mogadishu to the western regions of Bay and Bakool.
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