AMISOM Force Commander lauds troops in Baidoa for security in Southwest Region

The Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Lieutenant General Diomede Ndegeya, has lauded Ethiopian forces; serving under AMISOM; based in the Southwest State of Somalia, for securing the local population and for their contribution to the overall stabilization effort in Somalia.

AMISOM Sector three, which covers Bay, Bakool, and Gedo regions, is manned by troops from the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), headquartered in Baidoa, the administrative capital of the Southwest State of Somalia.

Lt Gen Ndegeya, who recently assumed command of the peacekeeping force, was addressing ENDF senior officers on Wednesday at the sector Headquarters in Baidoa, as part of his familiarization tour of the six sectors that form AMISOM.

Lt Gen Ndegeya was accompanied by top AMISOM military officers from the Force Headquarters in Mogadishu, which included the Deputy Force Commander in-charge of Supplies and Logistics, Major General, George Owinow.

On arrival in Baidoa, Lt Gen Ndegeya was received by the AMISOM Sector three Commander, Brigadier General Alemu Ayene, and other senior military officers in the sector, before inspecting a guard-of-honour mounted by Ethiopian AMISOM forces.

The Force Commander noted that the presence of Ethiopian AMISOM forces in the region has enabled the local population to embark on commercial activities and to go about their daily lives. 

However, the Force Commander noted that there was need to strengthen joint operations with Somali Security Forces (SSF) and step up security along the Baidoa-Leego-Mogadishu Main Supply Route (MSR) and secure population centres, in line with the AMISOM Concept of Operations (CONOPs 2018-2021), and the Somalia Transition Plan (STP).

The Somalia Transition Plan is a comprehensive guide developed by the Federal Government of Somalia and its partners for the transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali National Security Forces ahead of AMISOM’s anticipated exit from the country.

Enhancing security on the MSR, Lt Gen Ndegeya noted, will enable the SSF to take up, on their own, the security responsibilities of key installations in the area ahead of AMISOMs envisaged exit.

Lt Gen Ndegeya also held a closed-door meeting with top AMISOM military officers in the sector, where he was briefed about the security situation and the welfare of the troops in the area.