President Museveni has threatened to withdraw the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) if the Somali transition government is not extended.
President Museveni
While talking at the 19th meeting of the International Contacts Group on Somalia at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Museveni said he would prefer extension of the Somali transitional government as AMISOM forces clear the Islamist combatants (Al-Shabab) completely.
He said that the militants will use the chance of the peacekeepers withdraw to destabilize the country that has just seen some significant peace.
Museveni added that Uganda as a member of AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) has no other interests in Somalia than the ideological Pan-Africanism.
Museveni’s suggestion was supported by his Somali counterpart, Sheik Sharif Ahmed who said that elections is a thing that every Somali would prefer but there is need for enough time to create a firm platform for that.
The Somalia transitional government is expected to end in August 23, 2011 and all AMISOM peacekeepers are supposed to withdraw before the due date.
By Nabula Baluku