By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. In August this year, Uganda called for sustainable funding to the African Union peace support operations whenever they are on the continent, as one way of fighting terrorism on the continent.
Objectives
Uganda’s Foreign Minister, Gen Juju Odongo while attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tunisia explained that the peace, security, and stability issue is the overarching framework for inclusive and sustainable development and socio-economic transformation of Africa.
However, without a sustainable and predictable way of funding the African Union peace support operations, the country will not be able to preserve the gains made thus far.
Cooperation
In 2007, Uganda became part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) which ensured Somalia was liberated from Al Shabaab Islamic insurgents. Uganda was the first country to send troops to Somalia and this opened way for other African countries to also deploy in the mission which was at one time dubbed as “dead on arrival” until Uganda People’s Defense Force’s (UPDF) arrival. After UPDF’s deployment in Somalia, other countries including Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia later deployed troops.
UPDF in Somalia
The UPDF has been playing a major role in forcing the Al Shabaab terrorist organization out of Mogadishu and other parts of the country, thereby contributing to the peace and stabilization effort in Somalia. If UPDF did not make the first move to Somalia no army from any other country would have sent troops there. The situation was chaotic by that time when the militant had just killed foreign soldiers.
About AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was created 15 years ago, as a regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union (AU) with the approval of the United Nations Security Council. It was tasked to support transitional government structures, implement a national security plan, train the Somali security forces, and assist in creating a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
AMISOM duties
AMISOM was tasked to support the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu and key installations from the Al Shabaab attacks.
Later duties
AMISOM later metamorphosed into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) which is mandated with stabilizing Somalia but also aims at transferring the full responsibilities of national security to the Federal Government of Somalia.
Why Uganda calls for AU funding
According to Uganda, the gains made in Somalia and other areas of the continent by the African Union forces ought to be protected. Uganda added that terrorism if not contained, has a tendency of achieving a universal character with unintended consequences.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. That is the reason why they support the call, for financing the African Union Peace Support Operations through the use of UN assessed contributions.
About AU
The African Union (AU) for decades has provided security on the continent. It has changed the face of peacekeeping and proven itself able in addressing conflict. The AU has built a sturdy reputation in conflict management through the use of the ad hoc (or context-specific) approach to peacekeeping.
TICAD developments
Next year TICAD will celebrate its 30th anniversary. In Uganda, a number of tangible projects, under the TICAD Framework, have been delivered, and others are ongoing implementation. These include the areas of energy, health, and infrastructure development. This has significantly contributed to Uganda’s transformation.
The promise
Uganda promised to continue providing the opportunity to strengthen the continent’s cooperation and enhance its capacity to deal with several challenges.
Uganda to stay in Somalia
Samuel Wakabi a journalist who has been covering the situation in Somalia told Africa-Press that it is evident that Uganda troops will continue their peacekeeping mission in Somalia, due to Uganda’s Commander of Land Forces (CLF) Lt Gen. Muhoozi Keinerugaba’s visit to Ugandan troops serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Lt Gen. Muhoozi went to Somalia to assess the welfare of the UPDF and commend them for their contribution to the peace support operation.
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