STATEMENT BY AMB. (ENG) MAHBOUB MAALIM, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF IGAD FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH OF THE EXERCISE TO INTEGRATE FORCES OF THE AHLU SUNNA WAL JAMAA (ASWJ) GROUP INTO THE SOMALI SECURITY FORCES.
Djibouti, – 6 July 2019: Amb. Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary of IGAD warmly welcomes the launch of the exercise to integrate forces of the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaa (ASWJ) group into the Somali Security Forces.
The Executive Secretary highly commends the leadership of the Federal Government of Somalia, Galmudug authorities, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa and the people of Galmudug on the occasion of this important breakthrough and salutes their commitment to a united, stable and prosperous Galmudug, and indeed the whole of Somalia.
“The launch of the integration exercise marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Somalia Security Architecture and Transition Plan, which are essential to enabling Somalia fully assume its security responsibilities” observed Amb. Maalim. The launch was witnessed, among others, by Amb. Mohamed Ali Guyo, IGAD Special Envoy to Somalia, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Executive Secretary encourages all stakeholders to maintain the same spirit of dialogue, mutual responsibility and inclusivity in the interest of peace and reconciliation and for the benefit of the people of Galmudug and Somalia.
The Executive Secretary reaffirms IGAD’s steadfast support for the integration exercise and also the ongoing political dialogue and reconciliation in Galmudug.
