By Uganda has reiterated its unwavering commitment to peace and stability in Somalia, emphasizing the Pan-African ideals behind its troop deployment to the African Union-led AUSSOM mission since 2007.
Speaking during the opening session of the Permanent Secretaries and Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to AUSSOM, Uganda’s delegation led by Ambassador John Leonard Mugerwa, representing Permanent Secretary Vincent Waiswa Bagiire stressed the historical and ideological foundation of Uganda’s involvement.
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“Our presence in Somalia is rooted in Pan-Africanism and solidarity. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,” Amb. Mugerwa declared, underlining Uganda’s view of regional security as a shared responsibility among African nations.
The Permanent Secretary further condemned Al-Shabaab’s continued use of asymmetric and complex attacks, describing them as “cowardly acts driven by a parochial ideology.” He emphasized that the terrorist group must not be allowed to undermine the progress made in Somalia or the region’s collective resolve.
Addressing the critical issue of mission financing, Hon. Bagiire, through his representative, warned that inconsistent and inadequate funding poses a grave threat to the success and sustainability of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). He called for the urgent and full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023), which outlines a framework for reliable international support for the mission.
“Unpredictable and unsustainable funding remains an existential threat to AUSSOM. We need stable and committed financing to maintain momentum,” the statement noted.
The meeting, attended by key stakeholders including Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Government of Somalia, and the AUSSOM leadership, aimed to review strategic security goals and operational cooperation among troop-contributing nations.
Uganda remains one of the leading contributors to the Somalia mission, and its renewed calls for solidarity, accountability, and global support reaffirm its strategic role in promoting peace and countering terrorism in the Horn of Africa.
