MOGADISHU, Jul 13 (NNN-IRIN) – A senior UN official held talks with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) leadership, to discuss various issues to boost the peace support operation in the country, the AU mission said yesterday.
Francisco Madeira, head of AMISOM said, Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, met with the AU mission’s leadership, to discuss logistical and financial support to the mission, including modalities to support the upcoming electoral process in Somalia.
“In 2016, we covered elections in areas where we had our military and our police. This time we are asked to go to areas where we have never deployed before. That will require additional logistical support. We discussed the matter with Khare. He was very receptive and will look into it,” Madeira said, in a statement issued in Mogadishu.
Madeira noted that the UN remains the most significant contributor to AMISOM, with the world body contributing almost two-thirds of the mission’s funds.
He said, discussions with Khare focused on the operations of AMISOM, as a multi-dimensional mission, support activities and institutional capacity-building to support peace and security for Somalia.
“We discussed everything, ranging from operational activities, institutional-building activities, the way AMISOM is doing it, and support activities. We believe this is the way to go. Somalia needs support to defeat al-Shabab,” Madeira said.
Khare, who is on a working visit to Somalia, will also meet leaders in the government and the South-west State of Somalia.– NNN-IRIN
