AU Commission chair Faki in Mogadishu, pays tribute to Somali and Amisom soldiers

Newly elected head of the African Union commission Moussa Faki today landed in Mogadishu on his maiden foreign visit few days after taking office.

Faki held talks with President Mohamed Farmaajo and officials of the Amisom where he paid tribute to fallen Somali and African Union forces.

Amisom said in a tweet the AU chief was in Somalia, “to stand with the Somali people during this difficult period of a prolonged drought and to congratulate the Somali government upon the successful completion of the 2016/2017 electoral process’.

Faki took over office from immediate former Dlamini Zuma on Tuesday and laid out a six point manifesto among them, ‘to silence the guns and realise an Africa free of conflicts by 2020.’

The visit of Faki is in departure from former chair Zuma who did not visit Somalia and more so the African Union force which is mandated by the African Union.

Faki will be expected to marshal support for Amisom which is facing a financial crunch following the 20% cut by the EU last year. The EU financing covers the stipends for Amisom soldiers.

Amisom chief Francisco Madeira has also called for increase of troops to bolsters pacification and stabilization of Somalia ahead of its planned 2020 draw down.

The African Union maintains a 22,000 strong force in Somalia.