Somalia: First AMISOM Troops Deployed outside Mogadishu

By NewsfromAfrica

MOGADISHU—On Thursday, the first troops from the AMISOM Force in Mogadishu were deployed to Baidoa, in western Somalia. These are the first troops to be sent to a major urban centre outside the capital since the African Union Mission was deployed to Somalia in 2007.

These 100 soldiers are the advance team for 2,500 AMISOM troops that will be deployed in phases to Somalia’s third largest city. Made up of fifty Burundian and fifty Ugandan soldiers, this team will be stationed alongside Ethiopian troops in Baidoa, Bay region of Somalia.

The Deputy Force Commander of AMISOM, Brigadier General Audace Nduwumunsi, said:

“Today is a major step forward for the African Union Mission and for everyone who wants to see peace in Somalia.

“Following hot on the heels of the UN’s authorisation of an enlarged AMISOM Force in February this deployment is the sharp end of the spear that will drive into the heart of territories controlled by Al Qaeda-backed extremists.

“The African Union Mission is building in strength and can now help the Somali government to bring peace and stability to areas of the country far from the capital. Together with the Somali Army we are defeating the violent extremists. They are losing ground and losing friends all over Somalia.”

“Expect to see more deployments soon.”

This deployment represents the first in a series of phases to expand AMISOM operations outside Mogadishu.  In February this year the United Nations Security Council authorised the enlargement of AMISOM to 17,731 troops and saw the integration of Kenyan Defence Forces in southern Somalia into AMISOM.

AMISOM’s strategy for future operations includes relieving Ethiopian troops in areas in  the west and gradually asserting control, in support of the Somali government, throughout south central Somalia.