Your Excellency General Abubaker Jeje Odongo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, Our host,
Your excellency Ministers of Troop Contribution Countries to Somalia,
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me start by thanking the government and people of Uganda for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to us since our arrival in this beautiful city of Entebbe.

For close to twenty years now, the TCC’s stood by Somalia. They made so many sacrifices for this brotherly country for the sake of peace and stability in Somalia.

Thousands of their valuable sons and daughters paid the ultimate price.

I would like to seize this opportunity to celebrate their memory and pay tribute to them. May their souls rest in peace.

Your Excellencies,
Somalia still needs our support. The Federal Government of Somalia did make tremendous gains against the Al Shabab on many fronts, with the Support of ATMIS forces.

In order to consolidate those recovery of territories, the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM must not fail.

Yes, the mission is confronted to financial challenges, there are still reluctances to implement resolution 2719 to Somalia.

The Commission of the African Union will spare no efforts to try and mobilize financial resources. However, it will take a collective effort from member countries and partners to save this African peace mission in Somalia from collapsing.

The Stability and security in Somalia is beneficial not only to the Horn of African but also to global peace at large.

At this juncture, I would like to command the work done on the ground by ATMIS-AUSSOM soldiers and the Somali Defense and Security forces.

I will also pay tribute to the Somali Federal Government political efforts in the process of state institution building.

The Commission will encourage the Federal Government to reach out to all Federal States for greater inclusivity.

To conclude, the African Union and its member states will continue to support Somalia and demonstrate full solidarity with the government and people of Somalia.

I thank you.