AU, Somalia devise new security strategy to combat terrorism

Somalia and the African Union (AU) are planning new security strategies to help combat terror threats in the country.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Francisco Madeira, held security talks with Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omart Arte to thrash out sticking points on security operations in the country, China.org reports.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed how Somalia’s national security forces and those from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) can co-ordinate and collaborate to defeat the terror gang, Al-Shabaab.

AMISOM, which crossed into the African nation in 2007, has registered a string of successes against Al-Shabaab militia which had seized much of the central and southern Somalia.

Al-Shabaab has said it views the presence of Kenyan troops in southern Somalia as an act of war and have been staging attacks in the East African nation particularly northeast areas bordering Somalia.

The group, which has teamed up with global terror network Al-Qaeda, is now vowing an all-out war in AMISOM and Somalia government bases.

During the meeting, Madeira said AMISOM was facing some challenges which need to be addressed for the regional force to deliver on its mandate.

The AU envoy said this would depend on how to better co-ordinate and improve the way AMISOM is pushing the operation forward.

He challenged the Somali population to find an approach that makes AMISOM feel that they are committed to take over the security of their country for the regional force to leave.