The new African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has visited the main base of the African Union Stabilization Support Mission in Somali (AUSSOM) on Monday.
Youssouf who was his first official visit to Somalia as AUC chairperson praised the peacekeepers’ bravery and sacrifices for the return to peace and security in the country.
He said the mission in Somalia was an integral part of advancing Africa’s stability agenda.
Youssouf pledged the organisation’s ”unwavering commitment to address operational challenges and improve troop welfare to strengthen the mission’s impact”.
He described AUSSOM as an example of “African solidarity in action”.
The 59-year-old Djiboutian diplomat assumed the role as AU Commission Chairperson after his election to the position in February with a promise to make peace and security a priority for the continent of 54 countries.
A salient point in his manifesto is preferring African solutions to mitigate the continent’s security challenges over foreign intervention.
He was also a vocal critic of the AU’s Peace and Security Council for being reactive rather than being proactive.