Mogadishu, 15 March 2013: Thhe AMISOM Force Commander Lt Gen Andre w Gutti, has paid tribute to the outgoing Somali Chief of General Staff, Gen Abdulqadir Shiekh Ali Diiniand pledged to continue working wit h his successor, Brig Gen Hadir Adan Elmi.

Speaking ata luncheon heldto ntroduce the new Chief of General Staff an d his deputy to AMISOM and inhonor 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 secu rity and political gains and continues the proce ss 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.

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