African Press Organization
Press release
Monday, March 18, 2013
The AMISOM Force Commander Lt Gen Andrew Gutti, has
paid tribute to the outgoing Somali Chief of General Staff, Gen
Abdulqadir Shiekh Ali Diiniand pledged to continue working with his
successor, Brig Gen Hadir Adan Elmi.
Speaking at a luncheon held to introduce the new Chief of General
Staff and his deputy to AMISOM and in honor of Gen Dini and his deputy,
Gen Abdikarin Yusuf Dhega Badan, Gen Gutti said the outgoing team
deserved much praise for their role in beginning to re build the Somali
armed forces and in working to extend the authority of the Somali
state.”We in AMISOM have been proud to serve alongsid e such great
Somali patriots,” he said. “Under Gen Dini’s leadership, the Somali
Nation al Security Forces have become better organized and more
effective as evidenced by the successes they have achieved against the
Al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabaab terror group across the country,” he
added.
Gen Gutti welcomed the appointment of Brig Elmi saying AMISOM was loo
king forward to working with the incoming commanders as the country
consolidates the security and political gains and continues the process
of professionalizing its security forces.”Alt hough much has been
achieved, a lot more remains to be done to ensure that the people o
Somalia can go about their daily lives in safety and security,” he said.
The luncheon was attended by the Somali Minister of Defense
Abdulhakim Mahamud Fiqi, who thanked AMISOM for support it had provided
to the Somali government and security forces over the last six years.
Others present included Amb. aj Gen Nathan Mugisha, the Ugandan
Ambassador to Somalia as well as AMISOM Deputy Forrce Commander Maj Gen
Salvator Harushima na, and Sector 1 Commander Brig Micheal Ondoga.