AMISOM’s commander Lt. Gen. Jim Owoyesigire asked AU troops in Somalia to steep counterterrorism operations and annihilate Al-Shabaab insurgents.
The commander who was on security assessment on all major troops’ operations camps called on AU troops to work jointly with Somali National Army to speedily defeat the Al-Qaeda branch in Somalia.
With increased insurgency across Somalia regions, Lt. Gen. Jim Owoyesigire asked troops to also work with locals and regional demonstrations. He noted HUMINT is key to defeating Al-Shabaab who conducts attacks and quickly embed, hide within locals and subsequently impeding counterterrorism efforts.
The Force Commander tasked the forces to intensify joint CT-Ops with SNA in order to train and mentor them in line with AMISOM transition/exit plan.
He visited AMISOM troops in Jowhar, Baidoa, Beletweyne and Baledogle operational bases where he discussed broad strategic plans geared towards rebuilding the state and government in Somalia.
AMISOM was scheduled to exit Somali by July 2018, but under United Nations Security Council resolution 2434 its mandate has been extended to 2020 with gradual withdrawal.
AU force in Somali stands at about 22, 000 strong-troops drawn from Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Burundi.
