The Minister of Defence, H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, together with the Chief of the Somali National Army (SNA), General Odawa Yusuf Rage, today received in his office the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, his Deputy Mr. Mouktar Ousman Karie, and the AUSSOM Force Commander, General Sam Kavuma.

 The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation and strategic partnership between the Ministry of Defence and AUSSOM, implementing the Security Transition Plan, and accelerating ongoing operations against the extremist Khawarij destabilizing the country.

Minister Fiqi expressed his gratitude to AUSSOM for their significant role in supporting security and stabilization efforts, particularly in Sector One, and for their contribution to the recent operations that liberated the strategic town of Bariire in Lower Shabelle region.