50 thousand dollar for each family of the soldiers who died fighting alshabaab. This is how much kenyan are worth, a lot more than my estimate of 15 thousand per head.
The current Amisom mandate expires on December 31, 2017.
“Some progress has been made for sure; Somalia is now back as a state,” he said.
“Previously, there was nobody to speak for Somalia, but today Somalia is in the African Union, United Nations and many other [bodies]; Somalia can now speak for herself in international fora, which is a big gain.”
Kiyonga said it was an act of omission that Africa and Uganda in particular delayed to intervene in Somalia. But these gains have come at a huge cost, he added.
“We have lost many troops as troop-contributing countries, many have been maimed for life and a lot of military equipment has been lost,” he said.
Kiyonga cited the 2012 loss of Uganda’s three helicopters which crashed in Kenya while en route to Somalia. The Mi-24 helicopters crashed on the slopes of Mount Kenya, killing several soldiers. Kiyonga also expressed concern that families of many Ugandan soldiers who lost lives in Somalia, had not been compensated.
“Of the people we have lost, 94 families, their compensation has not yet been paid,” he said.
He revealed that the family of a Ugandan soldier who dies in Somalia in the line of duty is entitled to $50,000 (Shs 125m) in compensation. Maman Sambo Sidikou, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC), in his speech read by his deputy, Lydia Wanyoto, urged the international community to help the government of Somalia to deliver services to people in liberated areas.
“We run a risk of turning the population against us if we do not turn our full attention now to the population in the recovered areas,” Wanyoto said.
“Today’s liberation army could become an occupation force tomorrow if the people cannot benefit from tangible peace dividends,” she added.
Abdirahman Sheikh Isse, Somalia’s national security advisor, said the government in Mogadishu appreciates all the international support. “Although al-Shabaab has been severely
