Soohoyde

Somalia and Uganda have jointly called for additional financial support for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and welcomed the upcoming meeting of AUSSOM troop-contributing countries later this month.

Following a meeting at the Nakasero State House in Kampala, Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda issued a joint communiqué covering key bilateral and regional issues.

They discussed the review of their defense cooperation agreement, strengthening regional integration through EAC, IGAD, and the AU, and urged continued support for peace and stability in Somalia.

The two leaders stressed the importance of implementing the Somali Security Development Plan and building the capacity of the Somali security forces, calling on the international community to step up support.

They also welcomed the official launch of AUSSOM, calling for sustained international backing, particularly for Somalia’s security sector.

The upcoming AUSSOM contributors’ meeting—to include Somalia, the AU, and the UN—will discuss mission planning and coordination.

Somalia and Uganda maintain strong diplomatic ties and signed a new defense pact last year. Uganda remains the largest contributor to AUSSOM, with 4,500 troops, and was the first country to deploy to Somalia under AMISOM in 2007.