Nairobi, Kenya, 19 May 2017 - The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Smail Chergui, and the Chief of Defense Staff of the Somali National Army (SNA), General Ahmed Jimaale Geedi, launched the Joint African Union – Somalia Task Force, as agreed between the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, during his official visit to the African Union Commission Headquarters, in Addis Ababa, on 4 May 2017.
One of the mandates of the Somalia-AU Task Force is to create better coordination and harmonization between the various partners in support of Somalia’s national security architecture.
The Commissioner for Peace and Security further highlighted that although the discussions centered around security issues, the Somalia-AU Joint Task Force will also assist Somali authorities to tackles issues related to governance, stabilization and development.
The Chief of Defense staff of the SNA welcomed the establishment of the Somalia-AU Joint Task Force and reiterated Somalia’s appreciation of AU’s support. The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security agreed to work with Somalia’s appreciation of AU’s vital support.