PRESS STATEMENT

Mogadishu, 8 August 2011 — On Friday, 5 August 2011, a handover ceremony between the outgoing Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Major General Nathan Mugishia, and the incoming Force Commander, Major General Fred

Mugishia, took place at the AMISOM Forward Headquarters, in Mogadishu. Before his assumption of duty, the new Force Commander was received by the AU Commission leadership in Addis Ababa.

The ceremony was attended by an AU Commission delegation led by Mr. El Ghassim Wane, Director, Peace and Security Department, the AMISOM leadership, senior military officers, men and women of the Mission, representatives of the TFG, and the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA).

Major General Nathan Mugishia had led the AU peacekeeping forces since 2009. Under his leadership, AMISOM, working closely with the Forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, has registered significant achievements, including extending
the TFG authority in Mogadishu.

During the handover ceremony, Major General Nathan Mugishia was awarded an AU peacekeeping medal, in recognition of his good service, commitment and gallantry. He was lauded for the significant progress made in containing the extremist group al-Shabaab
during his tenure, which led to the capturing of key strategic positions throughout Mogadishu. This has resulted in relative stability.

The outgoing Force Commander was grateful to the rank and file of AMISOM personnel, both civilian and military, for their support during his tenure. His successor, Major General Fred Mugishia, vowed to continue and build on his accomplishments in order to achieve the objectives of the Mission and help bring about security and stability to Somalia and to the region at large.