UN Special Envoy Hails UPDF for Role in Stabilizing Somalia

The Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja met with the UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Hannah Tetteh at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Mbuya.

During the Tuesday meeting, Ssempijja and Tetteh discussed various matters of regional security including the significance of a peaceful and stable Somalia to the region.

Minister Ssempijja underscored Uganda’s unwavering commitment to supporting Somali-led peace and security processes to achieve long term peace and development in Somalia.

“We do this in the spirit of Pan-Africanism. Not only for Africa but for everybody to be safe, Somalia needs to be peaceful and stable,” Ssempijja observed.

On her part, Tetteh applauded UPDF’s instrumental role in stabilizing Somalia since 2007.

She further reiterated the importance of cohesion among major partners together with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to enable the smooth transfer of security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) by December 31, 2024, when ATMIS is expected to fully exit Somalia.

“There is need for concerted and coordinated efforts from all the partners so as to enable Somalia to achieve its National Transition Plan,” Tetteh remarked.

Both parties concurred on the need to continue strengthening the discussions and areas of cooperation on regional security to achieve their shared vision of a peaceful and stable Horn Africa.

The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Rosette Byengoma, the Joint Chief of Staff Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda and the Defence Spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye.