The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has appointed a new force commander to take charge of the multi-national military.
On Sunday, Lt. Gen. Diomede Ndegeya, a Burundian, arrived in Mogadishu to head the forces from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Burundi.
He takes over from the Ethiopian, Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma, whose tenure as the force commander lasted from January 2019.
Top AMISOM officers were at the Aden Abdulle International Airport to receive and welcome Lt. Gen. Ndegeya into the country.
Among them were Maj. Gen. Nakibus Lakara and Maj. Gen. George Owinow.
Maj. Gen. Lakara is the Deputy Force Commander of AMISOM’s Operations and Plans unit while Maj. Gen. Owinow serves as the Deputy Force Commander Support and Logistics.
Upon his arrival, Lt. Gen. Ndegeya said he was in the country to help “Africa, Somalia, and his brothers.”
The 57-year old Burundian has spent 38 years in the military. Previously, he also served AMISOM between 2007 and 2009.