AU Strengthens Its Leadership In Somalia as New Deputy Head Of ATMIS Arrives In Mogadishu

The newly appointed Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) to Somalia, Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam, has arrived at the Mission Headquarters in Mogadishu to begin his duties.

According to ATMIS, Bam, a South African, brings extensive experience in conflict resolution and analysis to the role, having previously served as the Head of the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the African Union Commission (AUC) from 2008 to 2021.

The report adds that he played a key role in the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (AFISMCAR), the African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA), the African Union Mission Start-Up Team for the Multi-National Joint Task Force on Boko Haram, and the African Union Observer Mission in Burundi.

Before joining the African Union Commission, Mr. Bam held several strategic roles in the Department of Defence, South Africa. He holds an Honours BA degree in Politics from the University of South Africa, Pretoria. He has written and presented several papers on peace and security in Africa.