As the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) navigates complex frontline operations, strategic communication has emerged as a primary line of defense against cognitive warfare and extremist messaging.
Leading this operational mandate in Sector 5, Major Roger Ndayisaba—a 20-year veteran of the Burundian military with eight years of international peacekeeping experience—serves as the primary public information officer tasked with neutralizing Al-Shabaab propaganda, verifying field intelligence, and maintaining real-time narrative control across the Hirshabelle region.
Operating out of Jowhar, Major Ndayisaba’s proactive strategy centers on rapid media monitoring and immediate factual disclosure to pre-empt rumors before they gain traction among local populations and security forces. By embedding directly with frontline units, disseminating transparent operational updates, and establishing open dialogue with community stakeholders, the public information office counters digital disinformation and fosters civil-military trust essential for sustained counter-insurgency success. Beyond neutralising false narratives, AUSSOM’s strategic communications framework ensures that frontline stabilization efforts and humanitarian outreach are accurately represented to safeguard both operational integrity and civilian lives.
ABJ/APA