By Dawan Africa - Reporter
Washington DC, (Mogadishu24)-Representatives from Qatar, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States met in Washington, D.C., on October 1 for the seventh meeting of the Somalia Quint, with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) also in attendance.
The Quint partners reiterated their commitment to Somalia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity, emphasizing the need to reduce regional tensions through dialogue, including Turkish-sponsored mediation efforts.
Discussions focused on shared economic and security objectives, with a particular emphasis on addressing threats from terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa.
The Quint expressed support for the FGS's ongoing efforts to build professional and accountable security forces and defense institutions. The partners agreed on the need to improve international training coordination for more effective near-term operations and to assist Somalia in developing long-term training capabilities.
A key topic of discussion was finalizing the transition to a new African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace the current African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
The partners highlighted the importance of broad stakeholder input, including troop contributors, to ensure a feasible, well-resourced mission with clear objectives and a synchronized exit strategy aligned with Somalia's security sector development.
The Quint also addressed the importance of comprehensive stabilization planning, aiming to incorporate governance, humanitarian support, and force planning into military operations for sustainable gains.
The partners concluded with plans to reconvene for an eighth meeting in Mogadishu, continuing their collaboration on Somalia's security and development.
