AU | UGANDA | SOMALIA

The special representative of the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission to Somalia Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef has commended the Uganda Police Force for their contribution to security and stability of Somalia.

Ambassador Souef, who is also the head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), made the commendation while presenting medals and certificates to a contingent of 160 Uganda Police Force personnel who completed the tour of duty in Somalia on Saturday, February 25, 2023. This was at the Ugandan base in Mogadishu. He was welcomed with full Police salutations and a guard of honour.

"Thank you for the commitment and dedication of African leaders, the state of Somalia today is up, it is because of your commitment and contribution that Somalia has made tremendous progress to stabilize,” Souef added.

Outgoing contingent commander, Esau Opio Atorom, thanked the officers for their teamwork to the Somali Police Force in securing the 2022 parliamentary and presidential elections.

According to a statement issued by ATMIS, acting ATMIS Police commissioner deputy commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunlowo thanked the outgoing contingent for their impeccable service in bravely and courageously providing escorts, securing strategic government installations and conducting joint patrols with the Somali Police Force (SPF), among others.

“These officers alongside their counterparts from other police-contributing countries: Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, performed incredibly well and we hope that the incoming Uganda FPU-11 will take over with equal enthusiasm,” Ogunlowo said.

Outgoing contingent commander, Esau Opio Atorom, thanked the officers for their teamwork to the Somali Police Force in securing the 2022 parliamentary and presidential elections.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the successful elections,” Opio said.

The commander of the incoming Unit-11 contingent, Juventine Euku expressed confidence that the new security personnel are ready to ensure that the African Union peace support operation is successfully implemented.

“We will execute our duties diligently with care, honesty and discipline,”Euku said.

The ATMIS mandate includes support with specialised training, advising, mentoring and providing operational support to the SPF such as joint patrols and protection of vital installation lines with the Somali Transition Plan.