Cadale - A delegation of United Nations and African Union officials today visited Hirshabelle State, on a mission to inspect the Cadale Forward Operating Base (FOB) ahead of officially handing over the facility to the Federal Government of Somalia. 

The delegation was led by the AU Special Representative to Somalia and Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef and the Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Assistant Secretary-General Aisa Kirabo Kacyira. UNSOS is mandated to provide logistic support to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as well as to a number of Somali Security Forces (SSF) in joint activities with ATMIS.

Located along the coastline north of the capital Mogadishu, Cadale Forward Operating Base in Hirshabelle State is currently staffed by ATMIS Burundi Forces

ASG Kacyira hailed the ATMIS Burundi soldiers for their sacrifice in contributing to Somalia's stabilization, which has led to the restoration of relative peace and security in the country. 

“You are drawing down with dignity and a sense of achievement. We want to thank you for having done a hard job of sacrificing yourselves. I am aware that along the way troops lost their lives and we honor them today,” said ASG Kacyira when she addressed Burundi ATMIS forces at the Cadale FOB.

Other officials included the ATMIS Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, and other UN and ATMIS officials from both the military and civilian components. 

ASG Kacyira called for continued collaboration between the UN and ATMIS during the transition period during which ATMIS will progressively handover security responsibilities to Somali security forces.

She pledged UNSOS support to ensure a successful drawdown, “This is a commitment and instruction from the Secretary-General that I am taking as a priority. My sense of achievement will not be determined by how I feel or how UNSOS staff feel, but how the people we serve, and that is you, are equipped and supported in order to give and support Somalia in its achievement of peace and security,” she said. 

The Head of UNSOS also commended the troops for implementing measures to protect the environment at the military base and adopting proper waste management measures that will leave behind a positive footprint and legacy of environmental conservation. 

**Located along the coastline north of the capital Mogadishu, Cadale Forward Operating Base in Hirshabelle State is currently staffed by ATMIS Burundi Forces.