Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who arrived in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, late Thursday, met with Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as preparations for the summit of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) are underway.
The meeting between the two leaders focused on strengthening the traditional relations between Somalia and Uganda, as both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in the areas of security, defense and the development of state institutions.
President Hassan Sheikh and President Museveni also discussed joint efforts to combat terrorism, stressing the importance of regional cooperation to counter security threats affecting the Horn of Africa.
The two presidents exchanged views on the summit of the countries whose troops participate in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is set to open in Kampala.
The summit is expected to focus on the future of security support for Somalia, strengthening the AUSSOM mission and accelerating efforts to build security institutions and governance in the country.
Somalia continues to face security challenges related to the fight against Al-Shabaab, with the Federal Government relying on support from regional countries and international partners to strengthen the capacity of the Somali military and ensure sustainable stability.
The Kampala meeting reflects the ongoing efforts of Somalia and Uganda to strengthen their strategic partnership, with both leaders stressing the importance of the international community continuing to support Somalia’s security, state-building and development efforts, in order to achieve sustainable peace and stability.