The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira during a press conference at a Nairobi hotel on November 17, 2016. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Ambassador Francisco Madeira said that the exit strategy depended on the number of trained Somali soldiers to take over from them, credible 2016 elections, and a successful de-radicalization drive among the youth.
The troops were deployed to Somalia in 2007 to defend the government against the insurgent Al-Shabaab group affiliated to Al-Qaeda.
The African Union troops serving in Somalia will leave the country starting 2018. The AU mission has trained at least 20, 000 Somali soldiers ahead of the planned exit, the head of the mission has said.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Ambassador Franscisco Caetano Madeira said that the exit strategy depended on the number of trained Somali soldiers to take over from them, credible 2016 elections, and a successful de-radicalization drive among the youth.
“Our exit should be judged on us having invested in Somalia to take over from us. There is an effort, but there is a huge logistical challenge,” Mr Madeira in a media briefing at a Nairobi hotel.
“We need to give guns to these people, because a soldier is prepared to fight. We should capacitate the Somalia army and they should be well prepared to take over from us.”
The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) previously trained 10,900 Somali soldiers with the 100 per cent increase to 20,000 troops coming as the mission prepares to exit.