Friday, June 05, 2015
The African Union and the Republic of Djibouti have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that provides for the deployment of a second Djiboutian battalion of 900 troops within the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).The MoU was signed late on Thursday at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smail Chergui, and the Ambassador of Djibouti to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU, Mohamed Idriss Farah.
Commissioner Chergui expressed appreciation to the Government and People of Djibouti for their substantial contribution to the continental efforts to end the conflict in Somalia and help this neighboring country to stabilize and rebuild.
The commissioner paid tribute to the bravery of the Djiboutian contingent and added: "Africa will never forget the sacrifices made by Djibouti for the liberation of and stabilization of Somalia."
Mohamed Idriss Farah on his part stated that Djibouti feels duty-bound to help a neighbor in need, adding that peace and security in Somalia are essential for peace, security and stability in Djibouti and the Horn of Africa.
"Djibouti will continue to fulfill its neighborly and pan-African responsibilities whenever called upon to do so" the Ambassador added.
The Djiboutian contingent currently serving within AMISOM comprises a battalion, which, alongside contingents from other Troop and Police Contributing Countries from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.