Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the president of Somalia has asked Somali refugees in Uganda to return home and contribute to national development saying their country is relatively stable. Addressing close to 2000 Somali nationals at home of deputy envoy of the Somali mission in Uganda in Walukuba-Jinja on Sunday, Sheikh Ahmed said Somalia has regained relative peace following the intervention of UPDF under the African Union Peace Keeping Missions-Amisom.
He said Amisom has done a tremendous job in ensuring peace and stability to prevail in Somalia forcing the militants to retreat which he said is a sign of surrender. Sheikh Sharif appealed to the Somalis in Uganda to return home and embark on efforts to rebuild their country. Musa Bashir, the Somali Deputy Commissioner explains that the impromptu visit of their head of state was intended to drum up support amongst the Somali community in Uganda ahead of the national elections scheduled for November 2012.
He says that they intend to allow all their nationals to participate in the elections regardless of where they leave. Somalia plunged into a civil war in 1992 following the death of General Siadi Barre. The country was torn to pieces giving rise to the emergency of war lords and Islamic Militants.
