AMISOM, civil society vow unity to pacify Somalia

Thursday May 2, 2019

Special representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Francisco Madeira - FILE PHOTO

MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the civil societies resolved on Wednesday to work together to stabilize the country which has been facing security challenges for the past two decades.

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The AU mission said it reached an agreement with representatives of Somalia's civil society to come up with programs that will help empower citizens to actively participate in the affairs of the country.

"We have a shared responsibility. As AMISOM, our mandate here is to ensure peace and security, however the success of the country depends on the positive efforts made by the citizens," Francisco Madeira, special representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu.

The AU mission has been working closely with the major players in Somalia to ensure that the transfer of security responsibility to national security forces proceeds smoothly and to ensure gains already made in the stabilization process are secured, Madeira said.

"We want you to take over and AMISOM is ready to help the people of Somalia make the country a better place to live in," he said.

AMISOM, through its civilian component, is working with the civil society in the promotion of inclusive politics, human rights, protection of vulnerable groups; preventing and countering violent extremism; rehabilitation of disengaged combatants and stabilization and early recovery, Madeira said.

He told the civil society representatives that AMISOM is not in Somalia to substitute the government and state institutions but to work with all partners to restore peace and stability and empower Somalis to effectively govern their country.

Babatunde Taiwo, AMISOM head of political affairs, urged the civil society to support AMISOM efforts.

"We want to give you a good sense of what AMISOM does to help you understand us better and also know the limits of AMISOM as an organization and what to expect in terms of support," Taiwo said.

Since the end of the civil war that left thousands dead, according to AMISOM, the civil society in Somalia has been playing a major role in peace-building and conflict resolution by helping bring warring factions to the negotiation table.

The organizations have also supplemented AMISOM and federal government efforts in improving the lives of vulnerable groups.

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