MOGADISHU – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday received Uganda’s Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, General Sam Okiding, at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, as senior military leaders from troop-contributing countries gather for a high-level security conference.
General Okiding is in the Somali capital to participate in the Commanders’ Conference of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), where military leaders are discussing ways to enhance joint operations against Al-Shabaab and strengthen regional security cooperation.
The meeting forms part of a series of engagements President Hassan Sheikh is holding with senior military officials attending the conference, with discussions focusing on deepening defence cooperation, accelerating counterterrorism operations, and improving coordination among Somalia and its international security partners.
During the talks, President Hassan Sheikh expressed Somalia’s appreciation to the government and people of Uganda for their longstanding contribution to the country’s peace and security efforts. He commended Uganda’s continued role in supporting the rebuilding of Somalia’s security institutions and its commitment to regional stability through AUSSOM.
The Somali president also underscored the importance of further strengthening the strategic partnership between Somalia and Uganda, emphasizing closer military collaboration, capacity-building, and coordinated efforts to defeat terrorism and ensure lasting peace and stability across Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.
