Mogadishu, 6th June 2013: Djiboutian forces serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) today joined their counterparts back home in commemorating the 37th anniversary of the establishment of the Djiboutian Armed Forces.
The celebration in Beledweyne and Bulo Burde was marked by a military parade in honor of this important event in the army‘s history which was established on the 6th of June 1977, the forces all dressed in AMISOM fatigues were in jovial mood as celebrations filled the air in the region.
In his message to the forces, the AMISOM Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif praised the work done so far in the Hiraan region by the Djiboutian forces, adding that, “I salute all of you for doing a commendable job for the Somali people in the region not only in providing security but also providing humanitarian assistance and reconciliation efforts for the community and local administration”
The event was attended by counterparts from Ethiopia National Defence Forces and the administration of Hiraan. Speaking at the function, Major Ali Dheere, Acting Contingent Commander said “we are gathered here today to mark the 37th anniversary of our army’s existence, the army is the country’s strength and vital to our national security, so we have to soldier on and defend our country, even when we are hundreds of miles away”.
The Governor of Hiraan, Abdifatah Hassan Farah took to the podium and rained praises on the Djiboutian contingent. “We are gathered here today to celebrate with our brothers as Hiraan and Somalia have benefited the most from the existence of the Djiboutian army since the liberation from the Al Shabaab terrorist.”
Djibouti is the third country to contribute to AMISOM with a contingent in Hiraan Region. The troops supporting Somali National Army recently captured the strategic town of Buulo Burto which was the supply nerve centre and home to hundreds of the Al-Qaeda linked terrorists
