MOGADISHU, Somalia – The commander of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), Lieutenant General Sam Kavuma, met in Mogadishu with the head of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Fran O’Grady, to discuss strengthening cooperation in addressing explosive threats and accelerating mine-clearance efforts across Somalia.
According to officials, the talks focused on enhancing coordination between AUSSOM and UNMAS in tackling the dangers posed by landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other explosive remnants of war that continue to threaten civilians and security forces.
The two sides underscored the importance of implementing a Training of Trainers programme aimed at building sustainable national capacity and improving the ability of Somali security institutions to manage explosive hazards independently.
Kavuma stressed the need to equip both AUSSOM personnel and Somali security forces with the skills and expertise required to effectively detect, manage and mitigate threats posed by mines and explosive devices.
O’Grady reaffirmed UNMAS’s commitment to supporting Somalia through mine-action programmes, technical training and broader efforts aimed at promoting peace, security and stability in the country.
The meeting comes as Somalia continues to face security challenges linked to armed conflict, with explosive devices remaining one of the most significant threats to civilians, humanitarian operations and security personnel.
