Burundian soldiers serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) man a checkpoint in the area surrounding Baidoa airstrip in central Somalia. An advance joint-contingent of 120 Ugandan and Burundian AMISOM troops are on the ground in Baidoa, 240km west of Mogadishu and are the first forces the AU mission has deployed outside the Somali… [more]
Toshihisa Takata, Japanese Ambassador to Kenya, prepares to cut ribbon during a handover ceremony of equipment donated by the Government of Japan through the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) Trust Fund to support the rebuilding of the SPF in the Somali capital Mogadishu. The equipment included a motor transport fleet of 15 pick-up… [more]
An officer with the Somali Police Force (SPF) stands on parade with the Japanese flag ahead of a handover ceremony of equipment donated by the Government of Japan through the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) Trust Fund to support the rebuilding of the SPF in the Somali capital Mogadishu. The equipment included a motor transport fleet… [more]
Outgoing African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force commander Maj, Gen. Fred Mugisha (left) prepares to hand over command to his successor, Ugandan Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti (right) at a ceremony at the mission's headquarters in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Gutti takes over the 11,400-strong AU force which Mugisha had commanded since early August 2011,… [more]
A Ugandan soldier of 341 Battalion serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) holds a rocket-propelled grenade at sunrise on the frontline near the main road on the northern edge of Maslah Town, the northern city limit of the Somali capital Mogadishu. AMISOM troops, now numbering 11,400 out of a mandated total of 17,731, supporting forces… [more]
Incoming African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti (right), flanked by the current FC Maj. Gen Fred, speaks to the Somali media at the mission's headquarters in the capital Mogadishu. Lt. Gen. Gutti is currently under-going an orientation tour of the mission's area of operations before taking over from Maj. Gen.… [more]
Incoming African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti inspects a Ugandan guard of honour at Mogadishu Stadium. Along with current Force Commander Maj. Gen Fred Mugisha, Lt. Gen. Gutti visited AMISOM bases in Maslah Town, Mogadishu University and the recently taken strategic area of Deynille as part of an orientation… [more]
Incoming African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti (middle-back) views surrounding terrain from the roof of Mogadishu University. Along with current Force Commander Maj. Gen Fred Mugisha, Lt. Gen. Gutti (front) visited AMISOM bases in Maslah Town, Mogadishu University and the recently taken strategic area of Deynille… [more]
Mogadishu‐March 30th, 2012; AMISOM has launched two key projects in Mogadishu with funding from the governments of Denmark and Sweeden. The projects are; Rehabilitation of four water wells in Hamarwyne, Hamarjabjab, Wadajir and Darkenely districts and construction of a primary school in Wadajir Disitrict.… [more]
Mogadishu‐March 30th, 2012; AMISOM has launched two key projects in Mogadishu with funding from the governments of Denmark and Sweeden. The projects are; Rehabilitation of four water wells in Hamarwyne, Hamarjabjab, Wadajir and Darkenely districts and construction of a primary school in Wadajir Disitrict.… [more]
The casket containing the body of fomer Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed who died aged 77 on Friday at a hospital in the Gulf State of Abu Dhabi is carried from an aircraft at Mogadishu International Airport during a ceremony ahead of his burial. AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE.… [more]
Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed leads prayers at Mogadishu International Airport during a ceremony held to recieve the casket containing the body of fomer president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed who died aged 77 on Friday at a hospital in the Gulf State of Abu Dhabi. AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE.… [more]
Two of four suspected members of Al Shabaab, the Somali Al-Qaeda-linked militant group, sit in front of a haul of weapons they were found with after being captured during a joint security operation conducted by soldiers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali security services in the Torfiq and Yaaqshiid areas of the capital Mogadishu.… [more]
Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers parade as part of a passing-out ceremony marking the conclusion of a 10-week advanced training course conducted by the military component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). 630 troops from different brigades of the SNA were taught and mentored on leadership skills, weapons handling field military tactics… [more]
A Somali National Army (SNA) soldier takes up a defensive position during a demonstration exercise for Somalia's President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed as part of a passing-out ceremony marking the conclusion of a 10-week advanced training course conducted by the military component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). 630 troops from different… [more]
Latest News
Rawlings: Somalia still at risk of Serious Famine
Ghana’s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings says though the United Nations has downgraded the famine situation in Somalia, the country was still at risk of a renewed crisis if humanitarian aid was cut. President Rawlings said an amount of $1.5 billion was required so Somalia does not return into a state … Continue reading …
Statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission: Addis Ababa, 11 February 2012
PRESS RELEASE THE AFRICAN UNION REITERATES ITS APPEAL FOR A GREATER MOBILIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DEFEAT THE AL-QAEDA LINKED AL SHABAAB IN SOMALIA Addis Ababa, 11 February 2012: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, has learnt of the announcement, on 9 February 2012, in a video statement, by the head of Al Qaeda, Ayman Al Zawahiri, … Continue reading …
Statement by The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra at the 21st meeting of the International Contact Group for Somalia (ICG-S)
5-6 FEBRUARY 2012, DJIBOUTI His Excellency, Mohamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti, His Excellency, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, His Excellency, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Hassan, Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia, His Excellency, Abdirahman Mohamud Farole, President of the Puntland State of Somalia, His Excellency, Mohamed … Continue reading …
Commuique of the 306th PSC meeting on the Situation in Somalia
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 306th meeting held on 5 January 2012, adopted the following decision on the situation in Somalia: Notes the recommendations made by the meeting of the Ministers of Defence of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other interested countries, held in Addis … Continue reading …
Communique of the 19th Extra Ordinary session of the IGAD
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 19th EXTRA-ORDINARY SESSION OF THE IGAD ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT ON THE SITUATION IN SOMALIA AND A BRIEFING ON THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES OF THE SUDAN COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT ADDIS ABABA, 25th November, 2011 The IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government held its 19th Extra-Ordinary Summit Meeting in Addis Ababa, on 25th November 2011 under … Continue reading …
Speech of the African Union High Representative for Somalia at the opening ceremony of the first meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks forum
Ambassador Liu Guijin, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, Vice-Minister Zhai Jun, Deputy Governor of Zhejiang Province, GongZheng, President Wu Fengmin of the Zhejiang Normal University, Excellences, Distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen: Thank you for offering me the opportunity to also address the opening ceremony of the maiden China-Africa Think Tanks Forum here in the beautiful city … Continue reading …
SRCC Remarks at UN Security Council 14th Sept, 2011
Speech by African Union Special Representative for Somalia Ambassador Boubacar Diarra at the United Nations Security Council debate on Somalia 14 September 2011, New York, USA. Download
Signed Statement and Roadmap
The three-day meeting facilitated by the UN Political Office for Somalia is aimed at formulating a roadmap for the war-ravaged country to end the almost seven years of successive transitional administration that largely failed to accomplish key tasks required to lead to a permanent and stable government for Somalia. Download