Friday 20,Dec,2024 {HMC} Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gen. Jeje Odongo, addresses a ministerial meeting on the situation in Somalia and post-ATMIS security arrangements via video link, emphasizing the need for sustainable funding for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM)
KAMPALA, Uganda — Gen. Jeje Odongo, Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of sustainable funding for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) during a ministerial meeting on the situation in Somalia and post-ATMIS security arrangements.
Odongo commended the progress made in Somalia, including three successive elections and the establishment of a credible government. However, he expressed concerns about the recent situation in Ras Kamboni, which he said divert attention and resources away from fighting Al-Shabaab.
The minister urged the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Jubaland to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. He also welcomed the conclusion of the Ankara Agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia, signed on December 11, 2024.
Odongo emphasized the need for the FGS to prioritize force generation and integration of accountable, affordable, self-sustaining, and able security forces. He warned that AUSSOM should not face the same challenges as AMISOM/ATMIS, including inadequate force multipliers and enablers, and insufficient funding.
The minister strongly supported the immediate and full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to finance AUSSOM, starting from January 1, 2025. He also urged the African Union Commission, the UN, and international partners to mobilize funding to fill the ATMIS deficit of $120 million by December 31, 2024.
In his closing remarks, Odongo emphasized the need for careful harmonization of the ATMIS exit with AUSSOM to avoid a security gap. He thanked the chair and participants for their attention to the matter.
