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AU mission vows to help Somalia hold successful polls

Xinhua, August 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Wednesday vowed to help Somalia hold successful elections slated for September and October and called for support from the international community.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Francisco Madeira, said a successful electoral process will not only be a victory for Somalia but also the pan-African body and the international community.

Madeira, who is also the head of AMISOM, said that the political progress in Somalia was testament to what can be achieved through cooperation among members of the international community in tackling terrorism as a global threat and not an isolated problem in Somalia.

He was referring to activities by the Al-Shbaab Islamist militant group in Somalia. AMISOM forces have been helping the Somali government battle the militants which carry out periodic attacks mostly in the country.

He reiterated that AMISOM will work together with the Somali National Security Forces to ensure the electoral process is successful.

"I would like to stress the commitment of the African Union to support Somalia and work with the Somali National Security Forces in securing the forthcoming election," Madeira said in a statement.

He stressed that efforts would be intensified to defeat Al-Shabaab militants, adding that the focus will be on clearing main supply routes and opening up rural areas to enable residents to move freely.

"Al-Shabaab militants have fled from the towns we have captured, hiding in the bushes, from where they continue to terrorize the Somali people," he said.

"This time, we will not only capture territory but will also aim at disrupting, degrading and destroying Al-Shabaab terrorists and their fighting capacity," he added.

He appealed to the Somali public to support the security forces in executing their mandate.

Madeira said the AU would provide training to members of Somalia's Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team and send observers for the elections.

Somalia is preparing to hold indirect elections in September and October which will culminate in the election of a new president who will lead the country in the next four years. Endit