On January 2nd , 2023, while in a meeting with the Somali locals and security leaders in the Marka Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, the commander of Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Battle Group 37, Col. Charles Kibaate Asiimwe, said that the deployment of UPDF soldiers in Somalia is based on the spirit of Pan-Africanism to ensure peace, security, and social and economic transformation.
“We are here on an African Union (AU) mandate to fulfill the Pan-Africanism spirit of ensuring peace, security, and social and economic transformation across Africa,” Col. Asiimwe said.
He added that they cannot watch their brothers in Somalia suffer from war, yet what affects Somalia affects Africa.
Col. Asiimwe argued that there should be mutual cooperation among all African nations in order to realize the social and economic transformation of such states.
“We all need each other, and no African country can work independently,” he said.
He drove home his point by relating it to a human body, where each member is equally important because once one part has a problem, the whole body suffers; therefore, they should work as a chain for success.
On the side of the Somalian army commander, Maj. Abdulkadir Munye revealed that Somali security forces are cordially working with UPDF in the area to demolish Al-Shabaab secret camps around El-Marade, Garas, Gawaan, Galka, and Salimo, among others.
Major Abdulkadir appealed to the world’s entrepreneurs to invest in Somalia, stating that the joint army is ready to support them in terms of security.
The two commanders concluded by vowing that Ugandan and Somali armed forces are determined to restore total peace to Somalia.
They also asked the Somali locals to report all Al-Shabaab elements to security forces in order to restore peace and security not only in Somalia but all throughout the region of East Africa.
UPDF is serving in Somalia to fulfill the mandate of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).