Mohamed Abdi Ware

Deputy Executive Secretary IGAD, Former Special Envoy, 2nd President, HirShabelle State of Somalia 2017-20. Views VERY strictly mine.

[Rashid Abdi @RAbdiAnalyst]

Last Thursday - a week ago - East African states convened a summit in Kampala to discuss the future of the military mission in Somalia.

IGAD Deputy Exec-Sec Mohamed Abdi Ware gave a powerful speech that called for an inclusive political settlement.

The Somali Wire this week publishes Mr Ware's speech in full.

https://t.co/wbG4sV03Ly

[Dr. Abdurahman Baadiyow @DrBaadiyow]

It was a pleasure to meet my friend Mohamed Abdi Waare, former President of Hirshabelle State and the current Deputy Secretary-General of IGAD. I was delighted to present him a copy of my book, Somalia: A State in Search of Exceptional Leadership. I sincerely thank him for his warm welcome, generous hospitality, and kindness.

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

Few Somalis know more about organic reconciliation, transitional justice and state building than @DrBaadiyow. He has been involved in all, since 1991.

Honored to welcome him in Djibouti and recieve a signed copy of his book: SOMALIA: A State in Search of Exceptional Leadership.

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

Glad to discuss with HE @_KithureKindiki, Deputy President of Kenya, at the Extraordinary Summit for the Troop Contributing Countries to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in Entebbe, Uganda.

His insights into the Peace and Security issues of our Region were very helpful, and informed our deliberations at the Summit. Look forward to engaging him continuously as we lock in the hard won gains of the AUSSOM mission.

[The Kenya Times @thekenyatimes]

IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary Mohamed Abdi Ware clarifies his remarks on the AUSSOM mission during the Summit in Entebbe, saying his message was rooted in honoring African peacekeepers, strengthening regional partnerships, and supporting Somalia’s path toward complete security self-reliance.

In his address, Ware encouraged troop-contributing nations, international partners, and Somali leaders to proactively coordinate a sustainable, phased transition plan that safeguards hard-won security gains while transitioning full operational responsibilities to indigenous Somali forces.

[KBC Channel 1 News @KBCChannel1]

LASTING PEACE IN SOMALIA

IGAD'S Mohamed Ware has called for an orderly security transition in Somalia, stressing that lasting peace requires national reconciliation, strong institutions, and local ownership.

#KBCniYetu ^KG

[KBC Channel 1 News @KBCChannel1]

LASTING PEACE IN SOMALIA

"The fight against Al-Shabaab is not a military-only mission, to get the Somali population on our side, we must counter Al-Shabaab narratives and improve lives by addressing underlying economic, social, and political challenges." ~ MOHAMED WARE, IGAD DEPUTY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

#KBCniYetu

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

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https://t.co/Ty40HlRmVk transition security of Somalia to its indigenous forces in the shortest possible time, and send the men and women of the AUSSOM Mission back to their home countries as the heroes they are. When the mission is successfully completed, They should go back to their home countries with their heads held high, and depart Somalia basking in glory and enjoying the undying gratitude of the Somali people and the pride, celebration, and admiration of their countrymen and women back home.
I have no clue how such sentiments would offend anyone, let alone the government we are all trying to help avoid a precipitous , premature, and disorderly exit of peacekeepers- an eventuality that unless avoided, would hand the Al Shabaab an enormous strategic advantage now, and for a long time.

I have attached the entirety of my remarks at the Ministerial Meeting on the 30th of July (open session) here.. I have also attached the official summary of my remarks as transcribed by the meeting secretariat).

As President @KagutaMuseveni said at the concluding session (open), with much wit and wisdom, (paraphrasing him): ‘ I will not reveal here what we discussed in the closed session. That is why it was a closed session’. And so, I will not disclose my remarks in the closed session here, either.

Attached is my speech at the (open) Ministerial Meeting and the official (on the record) summary of my remarks. Read them for yourself. Make up your mind.

@KagutaMuseveni
@HassanSMohamud
@_KithureKindiki
@ymahmoudali
@DrWorkneh
@MAECIDJIBOUTI
@MAEBurundi
@MFAEthiopia
@ForeignOfficeKE
@MOFASomalia
@SouthSudanGov
@MofaSudan
@UgandaMFA
@_AfricanUnion
@AUC_PAPS
@aussom_
@UNSOS_
@UNSomalia
@ChineseSomalia
@FranceinSomalia
@AmbRus_Djibouti
@UKinSomalia
@US2SOMALIA
@USEmbassyUganda
@TC_MogadisuBE

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

Statement for the Record

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In the last few days, much of the political chatter in Somalia, on and off social media, dealt with vicious rumors that have been circulating virally about events at the Extraordinary Summit for the Troop Contributing Countries to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) held in Entebbe, Uganda on the 29-31st of July 2026.

These rumors claim that, I, in my speech at the Ministerial Meeting, to put it politely, stabbed the President and the delegation from Somalia in the back, betrayed my home country , and made provocative remarks in my speech that put the future of the AUSSOM mission in jeopardy.’

I am setting the record straight here, so that interested parties of goodwill can read my remarks in their entirety, and make up their minds.

The speech, made in my capacity as the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and representing the Executive Secretary at the Summit, was informed by the following sentiments:

https://t.co/syZMXKNfke honor and celebrate the men and women, both Somali and African Union troops, that made tremendous sacrifice over the duration of the mission; some giving the ultimate price with their lives.

2.The African Union Mission ( AMISOM/ATMIS/AUSSOM) has taken too long (almost 20 years), and yet, the Al Shabaab still controls large swaths of territory and vital trading routes in the country. This has, justifiably, led to ‘mission fatigue’ among troop contributing countries (TCC), among partners, and indeed among the Somali people.

3. It is time to assess the mission, ask each other difficult and relevant questions, and put forward a new way of dealing with the obvious challenges: A way forward that locks in the gains made so far, and avoids a premature and disorderly exit of the peacekeeping troops. This assessment is long overdue. It is unfortunate that the current reckoning is triggered by the unease of international partners, notably the United States of America, which declared that it will terminate its critical logistical support to UNSOS.

https://t.co/pYMLEirVKt acknowledgment at all levels (CDFs, Ministerial, and Heads of State and Government) at the Summit, that the fight against Al Shabaab is not a military-only mission, and that to get the Somali population on our side , we must counter the al Shabaab narratives and improve the lives of the population by addressing the underlying economic, social, and political challenges. As a country recovering from a bitter civil war, the issue of dialogue, reconciliation , the fashioning of a new social contract, and the building of legitimate and effective institutions is of particularly paramount importance. This was the almost universal sentiment of the delegates at the Summit. The only issue, as requested by the Somalia delegation, was to kick discussions on politics, reconciliation, dialogue, etc upstairs, as it were, to the meeting of the Heads of State and Government, instead of discussing it at the Ministerial Level.

https://t.co/8O4328gsDQ listen with empathy and humility to the legitimate concerns of Troop Contributing Countries and International partners, whose populations and governments are rightly asking, why the mission has taken so long, and what do we have to show for it. After frank discussions, it is hoped that a credible plan would be put forward- one that would allay the concerns of the TCCs and Partners; and as a result garner their continued support for the mission, at least for an orderly liquidation. To hide behind ‘faux sovereignty’ and avoid discussing the bitter truth around these issues, simply will not cut it ( the irony of asking for foreign troops to maintain basic security in one’s own country and yet claim ‘sovereignty’ when convenient was not lost on the delegates of the Summit).

…/2

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

Congratulations to my brother @HESaidADeni , President of the Puntland State of Somalia and the People of Puntland on the 28th Anniversary of the formation of Puntland- a pioneering social experiment in the post.conflict Somalia, whose total impact is yet to fully play out.

HirShabelle and Puntland States share deep economic and social ties, and I remember with fondness the long discussions our two delegations used to carry out hammering closer economic and social integration.

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

After serious and frank discussions in Entebbe, Uganda, we conclude the Extraordinary Summit for the Troop Contributing Countries to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) on a high note of solidarity among African brothers and sisters, and a commitment to face the challenges and opportunities as one.

Thanks to President @KagutaMuseveni and the Government and People of Uganda for gracious hospitality and impeccable organization of the Summit.

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

Ilaaheey ha u naxariisto Axmed Cali Cigaal. Wuxuu ahaa tiir fanka, dhanka laxanka, garaacidda iyo heesaha.

Waxuu qeyb muhiim ah 1990-yadii ka ahaa wacyigelin riwaayadeysan oo ka hadleeysay sameeynta colaadda sokeeye oo hey’adda Laanqeerta Cas, oo aan markaas ka shaqeynaayey garab u aheyd- oo la oran jiray ‘War jiraaba cakaaruu iman’- in wax la hubsado oo aan colaad si fudud loo hurin.

Waxaa iigu horeeysay oo aan bartay 1972-dii oo aan deris Anzalotti ka aheyn. Ilaa waqtigaas, dabeecadiisa wanaagsan isma beddelin.

Ilaaheeyow Dambigisa dhaaf, Jannatul fardowsana ugu bishaaree..

[Dr Workneh Gebeyehu @DrWorkneh]

The future of our region is inseparable from the future of Sudan.

Today in Khartoum, I met with H.E. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereign Council of Sudan. Our discussions focused on the current situation in Sudan and the collective responsibility to advance a lasting, Sudanese-led peace.

As a strategic bridge between Africa and the Middle East, peace in Sudan is vital not only for regional stability but, above all, for the millions of Sudanese who continue to bear the greatest burden of this conflict.

IGAD will continue to support the people of Sudan in their pursuit of peace, stability, and recovery.

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

Glad to discuss with HE Mika Cleverley, Chargé D’affaires at U.S. Embassy, Uganda, on the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in Kampala, Uganda.

The United States is an important partner of IGAD and its Member States bilaterally or through multilateral institutions, in the areas of Peace and Security, health and education, Social and Economic Development, Climate resilience, and others.

Grateful for his insights on the challenges and opportunities in these areas.

[Dr Workneh Gebeyehu @DrWorkneh]

Good meeting with H.E. Kamil Idris, Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan, in Khartoum.

We discussed the actions needed to advance Sudan’s journey towards peace, stability, and recovery.

As IGAD, we remain committed to supporting Sudan’s pursuit of lasting peace and sustainable recovery. This journey will require concerted action by the Government, IGAD, and our partners, united by one shared goal: restoring a safe and stable Sudan for its people.

[Mohamed Abdi Ware @MAWareSO]

Grateful for the gracious welcome and hosting of the 2nd Extraordinary AUSSOM Summit by Minister Hon. @KiryowaKk and CDF Gen @mkainerugaba at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

An important meeting at a critical juncture as we discuss the future of the AUSSOM mission in Somalia.