President Hassan: AMISOM troops from Sierra Leone had no political agenda in Somalia
18 Dec – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Mareeg Media/Radio RBC – 198 Words
The president of Somalia Hon. Hassan Sheik Mohamed speaking at a farewell ceremony for 850 Sierra Leonean troops leaving the country has commended the AMISOM battalion for their courage and dedication while serving the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia. He said that the troops had no political or economic agenda whatsoever in Somalia and that they had the best interest of Somalia at heart and that their sole aim was to stabilize Somalia.
The president pointed out the similarities between the two states in terms of the civil war, and that Sierre Leone is an example for Somalia. While commenting about the Ebola outbreak in that country, which was the main reason for troops leaving Somalia, the president offered his condolences to those who lost their loved ones to the virus, and committed that Somalia will stand with the people of Sierra Leone in the hard times. “I always said and I will say it again, the best gift one can give to someone else is to sacrifice his life, and that is what these troops have done, and we owe them too much” President Hassan said at the ceremony in Kismayo, where the troops were based.
Ahmed Mohamed Islam, the head of the Interim Jubba Administration applauded what he termed as the heroic actions of the Sierra Leonean troops serving in the AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia. He said they conducted themselves with the best code of conduct and had good relationship with the locals “They even shared their daily rations with the disadvantaged citizens of this country” Ahmed said. He hoped that Kismayo would be the twin sister of Free Town, the capital city of Sierra Leone. The commander of Sierra Leone troops Mr. Alio said he was disheartened to leave Somalia but wished the country best luck. According to the commander there was only one soldier killed in a action and six others wounded. Sierra Leone troops pulled out the country under difficult situation happening back home, the outbreak of Ebola disease has made impossible for the troops to be exchanged with others.
Key Headlines
• President Hassan: AMISOM troops from Sierra Leone had no political agenda in Somalia
• ASWJ welcomes the appointment of the New PM Omar Abdirashid (Radio Mustaqbal)
• Sierra Leone troops withdraw from Somalia (Radio Goobjoog/Mareeg Media/RBC)
• Security forces in Bay arrest al-Shabaab suspects at Goof Gaduud (Radio Dalsan)
• Somali police in preparation to mark 71st anniversary (Radio Bar-kulan)
• Interim Jubba Administration welcomes the newly appointed prime minister of Federal Government of Somalia ( Radio RBC)
• Central state formation committee training concludes (Sabahi Online)
• 120 Somali refugees head home from Kenya (World Bulletin)
• Somali refugee with NZ passport facing terror charges in Australia (One News)
• Germany Welcomes nomination of New Prime Minister (Germany Embassy)
• The EU disburses 10.875 million EUR helping to accelerate socio-economic recovery in Somalia (EU)