Somalia and Djibouti have agreed to enhance their military cooperation amid operations against al-Shabaab by the Somali national army and allied clan militias intensified in central Somalia.
In a statement, the Somali Defense ministry said the country’s Defence Minister Abdikadir Mohamed Nur has held a meeting with his Djiboutian counterpart Hassan Omar in Djibouti.
The two officials discussed the military cooperation between the countries and ongoing operations against al-Shabaab fighters in central and southern Somalia. The meeting was also attended by the chief of Djibouti’s armed forces General Zakariye Sheikh.
In December 2011, Djibouti became the third country to contribute to African Union Mission formerly known as Atmis.
The country has deployed a contingent of 960 troops into Somalia and they are based in Beletweyne which serves as Sector 4 headquarters which covers the Hiiran region.
Djibouti has also contributed several officers to the AMISOM Force Headquarters including Chief Of Staff Major General Osman-Noor Soubagle and Colonel Ali Aden Houmed the Force Spokesman.