We Shall Solve the Somalia Problem –Museveni Assures Troop Contribution Countries

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Chairperson of the Heads of States from Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), has pledged to stabilize the Horn of Africa. He made the assurance at the Extraordinary Summit of the troop-contributing countries held on Thursday at State House Entebbe.

During the summit, President Museveni reminded delegates that Africa had solved similar problems before, citing the case of Idi Amin in Uganda, which was resolved with Tanzania’s help, and the case of Burundi, which was resolved by East Africa. He expressed his confidence that the problem in Somalia can also be solved.

The summit was attended by the Presidents of the troop-contributing countries and their delegates, including H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, H.E. Evariste Ndahishimiye of Burundi, H.E. Dr William Ruto of Kenya, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia H.E Mr Demeke Mekonnen. Other attendees included the head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Ambassador Mohammed El-Amine Souef, IGAD Head of Mission in Uganda Her Excellency Lucy Daxbacher, the head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) Ms. Aisa Kacyira, and African Union Commissioners H.E. Imosemi Isevboja Sunday and H.E Mr. Bankole Adeoye.

The summit commended the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia for successfully implementing its mandate, including supporting smooth political transitions, saving lives, and supporting stabilization efforts in Somalia. It underscored the importance of respecting Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity and reaffirmed its commitment to assisting the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in its stabilization efforts.

The Heads of State welcomed the initiative by the Federal Government of Somalia to take full ownership and leadership of Somalia’s Stabilization Strategy. They called for increased logistical support to the Somali Security Forces and extended the scope to reflect the realities on the ground.

The summit also agreed on the procedures for the drawdown of 2,000 ATMIS troops in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2670 (2022) and underlined the need for the joint assessment of the drawdown of 3,000 ATMIS troops.

President of the Republic of Djibouti His Excellency Ismail Guelleh and His Excellency, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya were mandated to engage the development partners on behalf of the Troop Contributing Countries in the stabilization of Somalia.

The summit was a follow-up event after the meeting between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during the United States Africa Leaders’ Summit held in Washington DC from December 13-15, 2022. H.E Hassan Mohamud requested H.E Museveni to host an Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the Troop Contributing Countries to ATIMS, which include Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

The summit was attended by several Ugandan delegates, including Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja the Minister of Defense and Veteran.