Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged Somali leaders and the Somali public to unify their stance regarding the war against Al-Shabaab.
The Ugandan President stated that political fragmentation and a lack of understanding regarding the root causes of the country’s problems serve as obstacles to achieving lasting peace.
Museveni made these remarks while meeting with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud—who was on an official visit to Uganda—at the State House in Entebbe. The two leaders also discussed security cooperation and the strengthening of trade relations between their respective nations.
Yoweri Museveni emphasized that resolving Somalia’s challenges requires a proper understanding of their underlying causes, as well as political unity to confront the country’s security threats.
“The problem in Somalia is one of ideology and a misinterpretation of the issues,” Museveni said, citing other African nations where political division has undermined stability.
He argued that deep societal divisions can provide an opportunity for small, fringe groups to maintain their influence, and he called for the unification of the people to effectively counter security threats. Uganda is among the countries with troops participating in African Union operations in Somalia, which support the Federal Government’s forces in their fight against Al-Shabaab.