Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have expressed concern over the continued threat posed by Al Shabaab to Somalia and the region.
According to a statement, the countries discussed al-Shabaab’s continued recruitment drive and acquisition of sophisticated weaponry.
The meeting chaired by Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union Commission was held virtually this week.
The Ministerial meeting was attended by Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister, Albert Shingiro.
Others are Burundi Foreign Affairs Minister, Henry Okello Oryem, Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, Catherine Mwangi representing Raychelle Omamo, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and Yilma Tadesse representing Demeka Mekonen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
The meeting received a briefing from AMISOM about the prevailing political and security situation in Somalia.
The meeting commended the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) for the efforts undertaken towards inclusive politics and welcomed the agreement on the electoral model for the 2020/21 national elections.
The participants re-emphasised the direction of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) as contained in paragraph 10 of AU PSC Communique 949 which urges the UN Security Council to agree on the modalities for an AU-UN co-leadership in undertaking the independent assessment and awaits a response to the request in the spirit of the AU-UN partnership on peace and security.
