Military spokesman, Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda said the guard unit will bolster the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia.
Hiiraan Online
By Shafi’i Mohyaddin
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesman, Lieutenant colonel Paddy Ankunda, told the media on Sunday that Uganda is planning to send as many as 410 extra troops to Somalia to guard United Nations facilities.
“We are in the process of sending 410 soldiers to Somalia. The guard will strengthen the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and will free the bulk of the AMISOM forces from escort duties,” UPDF spokesman Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda told the media.
Meanwhile, AMISOM spokesman, Colonel Ali Aden Hamud said that the AU mission was not aware of the U.N. guard unit; adding that the special forces will not serve under the AMISOM command in Somalia.
“AMISOM objective in Somalia is to restore peace and stability, but if Uganda is sending other forces outside of the AU mission---this will send the wrong message that AMISOM is not capable of protecting UN facilities,” Colonel Ali Aden Hamud told VOA Somali in response to the announcement by UPDF.
Uganda already has more than 6,000 troops in Somalia, leading the African Union force.
Last year, fighters loyal to Al shabab militants in Somalia raided a UN compound in Mogadishu, killing several people including UN staffers before Somali forces ended the siege which lasted for nearly 30 minutes.
Email:[email protected]