The summit of Heads of State and Government of Somalia’s neighbouring countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya have backed Mogadishu’s bid to completely lift the arms embargo by the end of this year.
The summit, which was held in Mogadishu on Wednesday and convened in the wake of the ongoing sustained war by Somali Security Forces, welcomed Somalia’s government request to obtain lethal and non-lethal support in war against al Shabaab.
This, the leaders said, is to ensure the newly-generated Somalia National Army units are properly equipped and to enhance the firepower capabilities of the operational units, The meeting was attended Djibouti’s President Ismail Omer Guelleh, Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Kenya’s President William Ruto under the chairmanship of Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The Somalia Frontline States Summit agreed to make the final push for joint operations in areas under al-Shabaab to facilitate the drawdown of The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia troops and the gradual handover of security responsibilities to the Somali security forces, ATMIS is the successor of the African Union Mission to Somalia and its mandate ends in 2024.
