Somali PM urges int'l community to help in stabilization process

MOGADISHU, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire on Monday appealed to the international partners to support his government to steer the country's security sector reform process.

Khaire, who co-chaired the government's security sector reforms cluster meeting in Mogadishu said the Horn of African nation still needs the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) to stabilize the country.

"We still need AMISOM and we don't want to see their work going back," the PM told the key stakeholders in the security reform process including representatives from the United Nations and the European Union.

The pan African body's mission has promised to continue supporting the transition through the priority tasks including securing main supply routes, securing key population centers, to mentor and assist Somali security forces, both military and police, in close collaboration with UN Mission in Somalia and in line with the National Security Architecture.

AMISOM has also committed to further degrading Al-Shabaab and implementing the transition process by continuing joint AMISOM-Somalia National Army efforts in executing these tasks.

During the meeting, Khaire highlighted the strong cooperation between the federal government and federal member states in the delivery of the National Security Architecture.

The country's National Security Architecture plan is central to achieving sustainable security reform and a transition of primary responsibility of security from AMISOM to Somali security forces.

Deputy Head of AMISOM Simon Mulongo emphasized the need for a well-planned and articulated transition in order to avoid setbacks.

"This transition should be one which goes hand in hand with stabilization, mediation and reconciliation efforts and delivery of basic social services," Mulongo said.

The Monday meeting was a follow-up to the High-Level Security Conference held in Mogadishu in December last year in which a conditions-based transfer of security responsibilities from AMISOM to Somali forces was discussed. Enditem