The Somalia State Minister, Ali Abdi, has extolled Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF for helping the operate safety in the country’s capital, Mogadishu. Abdi said if UPDF wasn’t supporting them, they couldn’t be having any operations in Mogadishu. “You have done a very important job for the government of Somalia that will live forever. We cannot operate safely, especially in Mogadishu, if it weren’t for the UPDF securing our rear,” Minister Abdi said.
Abdi said during his visit to Awdheegle town which was recaptured from Al-Shabaab barely a fortnight ago. Abdi was accompanied by Somalia Chief of Defence Forces of the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF), Maj Gen Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, and the Force Commander of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma.
Abdi, Maj Gen Odowaa and Lt Gen Kavuma were on the visit aimed to assess the security situation in the area and identify the immediate needs of both the local population and the deployed forces. Awdheegle town is among the many urban areas that were recaptured by Al-Shaabab barely four months after foreign forces including UPDF had been withdrawn in some places as a way of implementing the drawdown.
Somalia National Army –SNA has been challenged by Minister Abdi to take greater responsibility for defending their country, noting that AUSSOM, UPDF, and other partners will eventually withdraw, leaving the country’s forces fully in charge of nation’s security.
Maj Gen Odowaa reminded the joint troops that Al-Shabaab remains a persistent threat and called for continued vigilance and alertness. According to Maj Odowaa, Somalia army needs to reduce over relying on UPDF and other AUSSOM. “With all the sacrifices the UPDF and partners have made in Somalia, I promise we will always be friends,” Maj Gen Odowaa said.
Lt Gen Kavuma, expressed optimism that the recently liberated towns would not fall back into the hands of terrorists, citing the resilience and determination of the troops. “I want to thank His Excellency, the President of Uganda, the CDF of UPDF, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and the entire UPDF leadership for accepting our proposal that led to the success of Operation Silent Storm,” Lt Gen Kavuma said.
Lt Gen Kavuma praised the frontline troops for their courage and commitment, acknowledging their role in achieving recent victories. “It’s you, the soldiers, who face direct fire from the enemy and it’s you who neutralise the threat. Without your sacrifice, this success would not be possible,” Lt Gen Kavuma added.
UPDF and SNA delegation presided over a community outreach activity in Awdheegle, which included the opening of a medical camp and the distribution of food items to affected and displaced residents. Abdi, Lt Gen Kavuma and Lt Gen Odowaa, said the successful recapture of Awdheegle marked the liberation of all towns that had fallen into Al-Shabaab’s hands in the Lower Shabelle region, achieving a remarkable series of victories against the militants within three months.