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| Ugandan fighter jet |
Uganda is willing to send another set of combat helicopters to fight the al Shabaab militants in Somalia despite the setback it suffered when three aircraft crashed in Kenya last Sunday. Gen. Jeje Odongo, the state minister for defense, said discussions were ongoing between the Government, UN and AU on whether Uganda can send other helicopters. “If we get a green light, we will send more equipment,” Odongo told reporters during an interview at the Air base in Entebbe on Friday 17.
Meanwhile, African Union
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force commander, Lt. General Andrew Gutti, has
appealed to Somalia’s armed forces to continue with their operations aimed at
strengthening security in Mogadishu.
Gutti
who is a Ugandan said his forces too would put in place relevant security
measures ahead of the upcoming presidential election scheduled for the next few
days. Speaking at a meeting in Mogadishu’s presidential palace mid last night,
Gutti said the forces should not allow disruption of the ongoing measures aimed
at bolstering security in the entire city.
During
the meeting participants deliberated ways to intensify security in the
city.Gen. Gutti said it is the responsibility of the armed forces to secure the
city during this time of heightened political tensions in Mogadishu as leaders
seek to end the current eight-years old transitional period.
In another news
Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed recently pardoned over 200 convicts some
of whom were Al -Shabaab agents including foreign fighters.
The former
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Sharif released the 219
convicts on the holy day for Muslims Eid.
The Minister for
Religious Affairs Ahmed Hassan Gaboobe stated that these people were pardoned
to commemorate the holy day of celebration. “We released the inmates in celebration
of Eid. These convicts were jailed after being convicted of minor crimes,” said
Minister Gabobe.
Courtesy
of New Vision and Our Reporter in Mogadishu.
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