Somalia peace-keepers doing commendable job
With the arrival of the Burundian troops and the rotation exercise of Ugandan troops, AMISOM, the AU peace-keeping force in Somalia, is taking shape. The month of January has been eventful. The smooth hand-over-take-over ceremonies characteristic of the UPDF and the bidding farewell by force command
By Ba-hoku Barigye
With the arrival of the Burundian troops and the rotation exercise of Ugandan troops, AMISOM, the AU peace-keeping force in Somalia, is taking shape. The month of January has been eventful. The smooth hand-over-take-over ceremonies characteristic of the UPDF and the bidding farewell by force commander Maj. Gen. Karuhanga to the gallant soldiers of the first Ugandan contingent, who had successfully completed their tour of duty, marked the beginning of a series of activities that would ensure order and continuity for the second contingent.
The officers and soldiers of both contingents would bypass each other in single files. While the departing troops smiled and looked excited, those arriving looked apprehensive. The Burundi troops had a different experience: they were arriving to join their colleagues of the advance party who had been in the mission area since December.
The next days were more hectic. The in-coming troops had to settle down and embark on their mission. But visitors to Mogadishu became a phenomenon for the AMISOM and for sometime the settling down would not be completed. But we seemed to enjoy each activity that the visitors engaged us in. The new prime minister of Somalia, Hassan Hussein Nur Adde, and his cabinet arrived in Mogadishu from Baidoa for the first time since their appointment and approval by parliament.
The prime minister’s message of dialogue, reconciliation and security is being echoed across the country. For the peace-keepers, this is heartening. Hopefully, the opposition will heed his call for peace. Meanwhile, the African Union Peace and Security Commissioner, Said Djinit, led an AU delegation to Mogadishu on the foothills of another important delegation from the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations. The former delivered a message of solidarity and support to the new cabinet and also checked on the AMISOM troops. The latter was on a fact-finding mission for a possible future UN deployment in Somalia.
These two developments are encouraging and should be supported by regional, continental and international bodies. They open a second window for peace in Somalia.
Earlier, the Burundian and Ugandan contingent commanders, Brig. Gen. Juvenal Niyoyunguruza and Col. Godfrey Golooba, had arrived in Mogadishu. They presented their national flags to the force commander in separate ceremonies at the airport. “These flags are brought spotless and must be returned so to your countries at the end of your dutyâ€, Maj. Gen. Karuhanga urged.
The troops are finally settling in with a few minor incidents. The confidence and competence of the commanders and their troops increase daily. I see the mutual friendship and comradeship between the Ugandan and Burundian commanders and their troops as a major tool towards achieving a common objective: peace in Mogadishu, first, and later in the whole mission area, Somalia.
This is bearing fruit with the Burundian contingent rolling out into Medina district a few days after the arrival of its equipment. The contingent commanders of Burundi and Uganda have to meet the expectations of their countries, the AU and humanity. They owe it to the Somali people who have hope in them.
AMISOM can and should deliver peace to Somalia provided that the contributing countries provide logistical support and deploy the pledged troops.
It is necessary that more African countries contribute because the 8,000 troops pledged may not be sufficient for the mission. The international community should also support the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia.
On a lighter note, I wish my colleagues in the UPDF and the people of Uganda a happy Tarehe Sita. We will commemorate it with our Burundian partners and the Somali people by cleaning and treating the sick at Medina Hospital.
I also congratulate my colleagues who were promoted recently, Lt. Col. Kisame, Lt. Col. Okoche, WO II Rusoke, and myself. But it was my beloved daughter, Tannya, who made my month. She scored aggregate 4 in PLE.
The writer is the Public Information Officer, AMISOM
With the arrival of the Burundian troops and the rotation exercise of Ugandan troops, AMISOM, the AU peace-keeping force in Somalia, is taking shape. The month of January has been eventful. The smooth hand-over-take-over ceremonies characteristic of the UPDF and the bidding farewell by force commander Maj. Gen. Karuhanga to the gallant soldiers of the first Ugandan contingent, who had successfully completed their tour of duty, marked the beginning of a series of activities that would ensure order and continuity for the second contingent.
The officers and soldiers of both contingents would bypass each other in single files. While the departing troops smiled and looked excited, those arriving looked apprehensive. The Burundi troops had a different experience: they were arriving to join their colleagues of the advance party who had been in the mission area since December.
The next days were more hectic. The in-coming troops had to settle down and embark on their mission. But visitors to Mogadishu became a phenomenon for the AMISOM and for sometime the settling down would not be completed. But we seemed to enjoy each activity that the visitors engaged us in. The new prime minister of Somalia, Hassan Hussein Nur Adde, and his cabinet arrived in Mogadishu from Baidoa for the first time since their appointment and approval by parliament.
The prime minister’s message of dialogue, reconciliation and security is being echoed across the country. For the peace-keepers, this is heartening. Hopefully, the opposition will heed his call for peace. Meanwhile, the African Union Peace and Security Commissioner, Said Djinit, led an AU delegation to Mogadishu on the foothills of another important delegation from the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations. The former delivered a message of solidarity and support to the new cabinet and also checked on the AMISOM troops. The latter was on a fact-finding mission for a possible future UN deployment in Somalia.
These two developments are encouraging and should be supported by regional, continental and international bodies. They open a second window for peace in Somalia.
Earlier, the Burundian and Ugandan contingent commanders, Brig. Gen. Juvenal Niyoyunguruza and Col. Godfrey Golooba, had arrived in Mogadishu. They presented their national flags to the force commander in separate ceremonies at the airport. “These flags are brought spotless and must be returned so to your countries at the end of your dutyâ€, Maj. Gen. Karuhanga urged.
The troops are finally settling in with a few minor incidents. The confidence and competence of the commanders and their troops increase daily. I see the mutual friendship and comradeship between the Ugandan and Burundian commanders and their troops as a major tool towards achieving a common objective: peace in Mogadishu, first, and later in the whole mission area, Somalia.
This is bearing fruit with the Burundian contingent rolling out into Medina district a few days after the arrival of its equipment. The contingent commanders of Burundi and Uganda have to meet the expectations of their countries, the AU and humanity. They owe it to the Somali people who have hope in them.
AMISOM can and should deliver peace to Somalia provided that the contributing countries provide logistical support and deploy the pledged troops.
It is necessary that more African countries contribute because the 8,000 troops pledged may not be sufficient for the mission. The international community should also support the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia.
On a lighter note, I wish my colleagues in the UPDF and the people of Uganda a happy Tarehe Sita. We will commemorate it with our Burundian partners and the Somali people by cleaning and treating the sick at Medina Hospital.
I also congratulate my colleagues who were promoted recently, Lt. Col. Kisame, Lt. Col. Okoche, WO II Rusoke, and myself. But it was my beloved daughter, Tannya, who made my month. She scored aggregate 4 in PLE.
The writer is the Public Information Officer, AMISOM