Mogadishu, 6 February 2025 – Senior commanders from the Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) recently convened in Mogadishu to devise strategies for joint counter-offensive operations against Al-Shabaab militants.
Acting AUSSOM Force Commander Major General Marius Ngendabanka welcomed senior Somali security officials, led by Chief of Defence Forces, General Odowa Yusuf Rage, at the Force Headquarters, where they held in-depth discussions on enhancing coordination and advancing joint operations.
The two senior officers emphasised reinforcing military collaboration between SNA and AUSSOM troops to build on achievements made under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
The meeting is part of a series of engagements since AUSSOM became operational on 1 January 2025.
In attendance were AUSSOM Deputy Force Commander in Charge of Support and Logistics, Major General Peter Kimani Muteti, AUSSOM Military Chief of Staff Brigadier General Kindu Gezu, and other senior AUSSOM and SNA officers.
The top military commanders met against the backdrop of the Federal Government of Somalia’s recent announcement to relaunch military operations against Al-Shabaab.
UN Security Council Resolution 2767 (2024) mandates AUSSOM forces to support the FGS in degrading Al-Shabaab and other affiliated armed groups as part of the stabilisation process.
