His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, today welcomed the United Nations Security Council backing for greater support to the SNA and increase in AMISOM forces. The United Nations Security Council endorsed the UN’s recommendation that the SNA be provided a package of non-lethal support, including: transport, food, fuel, shelter and medical support through a trust fund. The Security Council additionally backed the recommendation of an increase in the number of uniformed AMISOM personnel to 22,126.

The Prime Minister, said: "I welcome and thank the Security Council for backing the recommendation for greater support to the SNA and increase in AMISOM troops, enabling us to build on the security advances already made.

"We encourage the UN, member states and international partners to ensure that sufficient and regular finance is made through the trust fund. This will allow the SNA, alongside AMISOM, to expand their scope and area of operations, bringing peace and stability to the whole of Somalia and ensuring there is no safe haven for Al-Shabaab. The long-term security and stability of Somalia will ultimately lie with the Somali National Security Forces.

"This increased support and manpower will help to bring about a final end to the fighting, allowing Somalia to get on with reconstructing our country and rebuilding our economy.”