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![The Somali army has waged a long war with Islamist militants [Getty Images]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/121444331-somalia-300x201.jpg)
The Somali army has waged a long war with Islamist militants [Getty Images]
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who was meeting visiting Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, said building a strong military is critical in stabilizing the Horn of African country that has faced decades of war.
“The pillar of the army is officers. We really must train officers and if there is any way we can support you, we are happy to do that. We need to get well educated officers and non commissioned officers with the right ideology and organize and support them to take control of the security of their country,” he said, according to a State House statement issued in the Ugandan capital Kampala.
Premier Abdi Farah who is on a two-day official visit said Somalia would like to see Uganda taking an active role in capacity building and helping in the process of reforming security institutions in the country.
He urged Museveni to drum support for Somalia to train, equip and build a professional army through the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Abdi Farah’s visit to Uganda is part of a series of official visits in the region including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya.
Uganda has more than 6,000 troops serving under AMISOM alongside other troops and Police officers from Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Uganda has also been helping to train Somali government troops.
Xinhua
