THIS WEEK: Ugandan named new AMISOM commander

THIS WEEK: Ugandan named new AMISOM commander

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Former Air force commander, Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigire has taken over from Burundi’s Lt. Gen Osman Noor Soubaglesh as the commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces, a peace keeping mission operated by the African Union in Somalia.

Owoyesigire was handed over power in a function held on Jan.31 at the mission’s headquarters in Mogadishu and presided over by the Special representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission [SRCC] and Head of AMISOM – Francisco Caetano Madeira.

‘’The main objective is to defeat Al-Shabaab terrorists and stabilize Somalia and the region at large as the effects have always spilled over to other countries in the region for example Uganda and Kenya”, said Lt Gen Jim Owoyesigire in his acceptance remarks according to a Statement to the media.

The statement also reads that the General brings 39 years of military and diplomatic experience to AMISOM and is expected to spearhead efforts to further boost the capacity of the Somali National Army to facilitate the exit of AMISOM from the country.

Noor has been in office since July 2016.