Djibouti to host follow-on summit for the Troop Contributing Countries

Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Gelle said that his country will host a follow-on summit on behalf of Somalia for the Troop Contributing Countries (TCC).

“As the government of Djibouti we are ready are to host summit whereby the leaders from countries contributed troops to African peace-Keeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will have discussion” president Gelle said.

The president speaking at Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York said that In the past year these forces have pushed back Al-Shabab from a number of its key strongholds, and opened new space for peace building and building local governance efforts.

In December 2011, Djibouti became the third country to contribute to AMISOM. The country has deployed a contingent of 960 troops into Somalia and they are based in Beletweyne which serves as Sector 4 headquarters which covers the Hiiran region. The contingent is commanded by Colonel Osman Doubad.

Djibouti has also contributed several officers to the AMISOM Force Headquarters including Chief Of Staff Major General Osman-Noor Soubagle and Colonel Ali Aden Houmed the Force Spokesman.

Last year, the contingent came to the aid of civilians in Beletweyne, helping to organize evacuations after heavy rains caused massive flooding in the region