The U.K.’s Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster on Tuesday lauded the African Union troops in Somalia for their role in improving security in the country and reducing the threat of terrorism.
Lancaster is on an official visit to Somalia, where he held talks with senior AMISOM officials and force commanders in Mogadishu.
The talks covered the transitioning of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces, and the British support to the AU mission.
UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Rt. Hon. Mark Lancaster has paid tribute to the AU troops in #Somalia for securing the country and reducing the threat of terrorism. https://t.co/0TxUDIovui.#AMISOM pic.twitter.com/TCBiwF6xgL
— AMISOM (@amisomsomalia) April 10, 2018
“We have discussed how potentially we can do more to support the mission, but equally talking about how we can progress the situation here in Somalia over the coming months and years,” he said in a statement issued by the AU mission.
Lancaster hailed AMISOM’s impact in Somalia, saying a lot of progress had been achieved in Somalia over the 11 years the mission has been deployed there.
“Without doubt, unless the good work of AMISOM over the last eleven years had happened, then Somalia would not be on the course of progress that it is today,” he said.
AMISOM troops were sent into Somalia to counter the threat posed by jihadist militant group al-Shabaab.
The group has waged a decade-long war in Somalia, aiming to topple the government and instil a strict jihadist-governed system of governance.
