Issue No. 969

Regional States Must Secure Inclusive Political Settlement in Somalia – IGAD Official

The Somali Wire presents the verbatim official remarks delivered by IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary Mr Mohamed Abdi Ware at the Ministerial Meeting, Extraordinary Summit for Troop Contributing Countries to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), in Entebbe, Uganda, on 30 July 2026. Published with his clearance and lightly edited for clarity, the views expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sahan Research and The Somali Wire Editorial Team.

Honourable Chair, Excellencies,

In the interest of time, allow me to stand on the protocols already established. 

All protocols observed.

At the outset, let me express my thanks to the Government of Uganda and its people for hosting this important meeting.

Uganda is a founding member of IGAD, a Troop Contributing Country, and a pillar for the peace and security of the region.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I stand before you today with profound respect and appreciation for the sacrifices the sons and daughters of your countries have made in the AMISOM/ATMIS/AUSSOM missions to help their African brothers and sisters in Somalia fight the scourge of Al-Shabaab, open and maintain critical trade routes, and help in the state-building process of Somalia. 

For nearly two decades, the sons and daughters of Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Burundi, and other African nations have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Somali people and Somali forces. Under the banners of AMISOM, ATMIS, and now AUSSOM, they have paid the highest price in blood and treasure so that Somalia might reclaim its sovereignty from the threat of Al-Shabaab and its affiliates. Thousands of African soldiers have shared in this sacrifice, and many have given their lives.

If I may interject a personal note, I served as President of HirShabelle State – one of Somalia’s Federal Member States – from 2019-2022. HirShabelle is one of the country’s most critical regions, straddling the area between the suburbs of Mogadishu, the food-growing heartland of the Shabelle River, and the Ethiopian border. It hosted troops from Djibouti, Burundi, and Ethiopia, with AUSSOM police units from a number of other countries. We also had extensive collaboration with Ugandan troops in the neighbouring sector of Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle.

In my capacity as president, I worked with AMISOM and ATMIS troops on a daily basis. I saw their courage, dedication and sacrifice intimately. I have seen them fight side by side with their Somali brothers and sisters. I have seen them bleed together. I have seen them die in solidarity with their brothers and sisters.

The courage of the Ugandans in the liberation of Mogadishu is legendary. Mogadishu now is, by some counts, the fastest-growing city in Africa. I'm sure you have seen on social media the skyscrapers being built in Mogadishu as diaspora remittances and local businesses invest in the safety and calm of Mogadishu. 

I was there when the Ugandans and other AMISOM troops were fighting Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu, street by street, drainage ditch by ditch, until the group could no longer stay and were dislodged.

I saw the bravery of the Burundians in Waanlaweyn and Leego as they led the offensive to open the road to Baidoa, a feat that will be remembered for a long time. 

The Djiboutian military deployment into Beledweyne and Buulo-Burte allowed the central government to extend its authority into central Somalia, despite those areas being highly isolated and inaccessible from Mogadishu at the time.

We (Somalis), and I personally, will remain eternally grateful for the role the Ethiopians and Djiboutians played in the liberation of large swathes of territory during my tenure as President.

With the support of local and regional administration forces, large areas were liberated from Al-Shabaab, including critical trading routes to Mogadishu. 

This offensive later led to a much larger, truly organic, and homegrown uprising against Al-Shabaab that became an inspiration to Somali communities across the country — demolishing Al-Shabaab's veneer of impunity and demonstrating to all that the group could be confronted and defeated when the population is on our side.

Similar stories of courage, valour, and unwavering support for local forces can be told regarding Kenyan forces in Jubaland, as well as Ethiopian forces in Baidoa and across South West State.

Thanks in large part to their presence and support for local forces and administrations, Kismayo and Baidoa have become two of Somalia's most vibrant cities. Furthermore, the Ethiopian presence in Baidoa created an enabling environment for delivering humanitarian assistance to the more than one million internally displaced persons who live in and around the city.

At this point, I must acknowledge and appreciate the generous support of our partners, particularly the European Union and the United States of America.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, those hard-won achievements face renewed scrutiny.

Al-Shabaab still controls vast territories, especially in rural regions essential for food production and security. It also controls critical roads vital for population movement and trade. From a purely IGAD perspective, it controls much of the border areas, restricting free trade and economic integration - a key mandate of IGAD - and poses a present danger to neighbouring countries.

Al-Shabaab still has a formidable revenue-generating capability and poses a significant terror threat to the continent and globally. There is a growing link, for example, with Boko Haram and other West African and Sahel terror networks. The intention seems to be to link up and form a terror corridor from West Africa to the Indian Ocean. This is a serious and worrisome development that will impact many IGAD countries, particularly Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and possibly even Kenya.

While the Federal Government of Somalia and its member states have done an exemplary job of force generation, training, and deployment - liberating large swathes of territory, especially in HirShabelle - the job is not done yet. 

While we discuss its drawdown and transition, the assistance that the AUSSOM mission provides remains critical. This includes providing logistical aid, medical evacuations and care, coordinating with international partners, deploying heavy force-multiplier equipment and air assets, and mobilising stabilisation resources.

The physical and psychological security that the AUSSOM mission provides cannot be overstated, particularly regarding the protection of critical infrastructure like Mogadishu International Airport as well as key sites in regional cities such as Kismayo, Baidoa, and Belet Weyne.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

A sudden or disorderly drawdown would hand Al-Shabaab the greatest strategic gift it has received in years. The gains secured at such cost would be reversed, the security of the entire Horn of Africa would be endangered, and the principle that Africans can solve their own problems in solidarity with each other - the vision of our leaders and the soul of this mission - would suffer a severe setback.

We must ensure that those valiant soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice did not die in vain. It is our duty to fulfil the vision of our Heads of State and Government, who wisely concluded that peace in Somalia is inseparable from peace across the entire region.

As a country recovering from a bitter civil war, Somalia has taken too long, in the eyes of many partners and many of the Somali people, to assume full responsibility for its security: creating an enabling environment for a truly national army capable of defeating Al-Shabaab, liberating and holding territory, and extending effective governance structures and government authority into the far corners of the country.

Somalia needs to take serious steps in assuming responsibility for the security of its sovereign space. Yes, the mission has taken too long and has led to 'mission-fatigue' across Troop Contributing Countries, among supportive partners, and indeed among the Somali people.

To cement the gains made, and to bring the mission to an orderly transition, we must do the following:

First, maintain a credible security posture that contains and continues to degrade Al-Shabaab while Somali forces are generated, trained and deployed at the required scale and quality.

Second, a realistic timeline for force generation, mentoring, deployment, and maintenance, with measurable benchmarks should be agreed upon by the Somali Government, Troop Contributing Countries and the African Union.

We must insist that the Somali Government assume responsibility for its sovereign territory in the shortest possible time. 

The people of Somalia know that a permanent foreign presence - even from brotherly countries - is not the solution. They realise that, ultimately, they can be assisted, but nobody will fight their fight for them. 

When talking to elders, as we mobilised local forces against Al-Shabaab in HirShabelle, I used to refer to a parable in the Holy Books about community ownership, when the Israelites told Moses (Musa, Peace Be Upon Him), “Go, you and your God and fight the Pharaoh; we will sit here and wait for you!”

And the elders would understand this completely and nod their heads in agreement. 

We must insist that Somalis fight their own battles, take responsibility for their security, and send their African brothers and sisters home with glory and gratitude.

Third, create a secure environment in which an inclusive political settlement can be reached - one that restores legitimate, broadly accepted institutions through dialogue, reforms and credible elections. 

Security without political legitimacy cannot endure; political progress without security is impossible. 

Those assembled here, and the subsequent Heads of State and Government Summit, must secure an iron-clad commitment from the Somali government on this issue.

Finally, a predictable financing arrangement for the mission is essential — one that takes uncertainty out of the picture, so that political leaders and force commanders can focus on the objective of handing full control of security to Somali forces in the shortest possible period.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I will conclude with this:

History will judge us by whether we consolidate the progress paid for in African blood, or whether we allow mission fatigue to undo it. 

The security of Somalia is inseparable from regional security. A stable Somalia ensures a stronger Greater Horn of Africa and a more secure continent. 

The troops of AUSSOM are not foreign forces on Somali soil. They are the living expression of African solidarity - heroes who came to assist their brothers and sisters at their moment of need. Many have paid the ultimate price with their lives. 

When the mission is over, we need to send the serving soldiers back home with their heads held high as the heroes they are, to enjoy the undying gratitude of the Somali people and the admiration and respect of their countrymen and women.

I thank you.