Baidoa, Somalia – The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) and Head of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, has visited Baidoa, the administrative capital of Southwest State, as part of his ongoing familiarisation tour of AUSSOM’s operational sectors.
Amb. Diene, who recently assumed leadership of the AU’s new mission following the transition from ATMIS, met with Southwest State officials, security commanders, and civil society representatives. His visit aimed to assess the mission’s activities on the ground and reaffirm AUSSOM’s continued support to Somalia’s peace, security, and stabilisation agenda.
During discussions with local leaders, Amb. Diene underscored AUSSOM’s role as a strategic partner in Somalia’s state-building process. He noted that the mission’s mandate is guided by close cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS), and international partners, ensuring security gains are sustained as the Somali National Army (SNA) takes on greater responsibilities.
“We are here to listen, to understand the realities on the ground, and to reaffirm our commitment to the people of Somalia,” Amb. Diene said, highlighting that Baidoa remains a critical hub for both political dialogue and ongoing security operations in southern Somalia.
Local authorities welcomed the visit, emphasizing the importance of AUSSOM’s continued engagement in supporting stabilization programs, humanitarian access, and the fight against Al-Shabaab.
The familiarisation tour, which will cover all AUSSOM sectors across the country, comes at a time when Somalia is navigating a sensitive security transition. With the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) having drawn down its troop numbers, AUSSOM is tasked with providing a leaner but more strategic presence focused on enabling Somali forces to lead in securing the nation.
Ambassador Diene’s visit to Baidoa is seen as a significant signal of the AU’s commitment to ensuring that the transition strengthens, rather than undermines, Somalia’s hard-won security gains.
