ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 5, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union and the Republic of Djibouti have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that provides for the deployment of a second Djiboutian battalion of 900 troops within the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The MoU was signed today at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Smail Chergui, and the Ambassador of Djibouti to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU, Amb. Mohamed Idriss Farah.
Speaking on the occasion of the MoU signing, Commissioner Chergui expressed appreciation to the Government and People of Djibouti for their substantial contribution to the continental efforts to end the conflict in Somalia and help this neighbouring country to stabilize and rebuild. He paid tribute to the bravery of the Djiboutian contingent and added: “Africa will never forget the sacrifices made by Djibouti for the liberation of and stabilization of Somalia.”
On his part, Amb. Mohamed Idriss Farah stated that Djibouti feels duty-bound to help a neighbour in need, adding that peace and security in Somalia are essential for peace, security and stability in Djibouti and the Horn of Africa. “Djibouti will continue to fulfil its neighbourly and pan-African responsibilities whenever called upon to do so,” the Ambassador added.
The Djiboutian contingent currently serving within AMISOM comprises a battalion, which, alongside contingents from other Troop and Police Contributing Countries (Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone), has played a critical role in the liberation of Somalia.
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