Thursday July 31, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has welcomed the newly appointed Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, in a meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the ongoing fight against terrorism and advancing Somalia’s security transition.
The meeting, held in Mogadishu, was also attended by AUSSOM Deputy Head Mouktar Ousman Karie. Prime Minister Barre briefed the AU delegation on the latest developments in Somalia’s military campaign against al-Shabaab and underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to defeating the group and stabilizing the country.
He also expressed Somalia’s deep appreciation for the African Union’s continued support through AUSSOM, formerly known as AMISOM, and acknowledged the mission’s vital role in peacekeeping, capacity-building, and supporting the federal government’s broader state-building agenda.
In response, Ambassador Diene thanked the Prime Minister for the warm reception and commended the resilience of the Somali people and government. He pledged the African Union’s ongoing support for Somalia’s stabilization efforts and emphasized AUSSOM’s commitment to a smooth, coordinated handover of security responsibilities to Somali forces, in line with the national Transition Plan.
The meeting comes as Somalia prepares for the next phases of troop drawdowns and security handovers under the AU-led framework, which seeks to empower Somali institutions to take full charge of national defense and governance by the end of 2024.