MOGADISHU, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali National Army (SNA) on Monday kicked off a major road rehabilitation works as part of efforts to ease transport in southern region.
The AU mission said the 54km main road linking the towns of Dhobley and Tabta in the Lower Jubba region of Somalia will ease the movement of people, goods and services in the region.
"This road is very strategic for people of Somalia in general and particularly to the state of Jubbaland, to ensure that there is freedom of movement of goods and people," said Dickson Ruto, commander of the Kenyan contingent in a statement issued in Mogadishu.
"We are also looking at it from security aspect that we need to dominate this road and ensure that we also degrade al-Shabab to ensure that the people within this state of Jubbaland are free and they can conduct their businesses freely," Ruto added.
He said the joint renovation works by AMISOM Kenyan troops based in Dhobley and their Somali counterparts are in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2472 and the revised AMISOM Concept of Operations (CONOPs), as well as the Somali Transition Plan.
"One of the tasks of AMISOM is to open main supply routes. We have a stretch between Dhobley all the way to Kismayo which is important to the movement of people and goods, particularly in the Federal Member State of Jubbaland," said Ruto.
Renovation of the road, Ruto noted, is also significant as it will bolster security in the region.
He said AMISOM troops also plan to rehabilitate roads within Dhobley Township which were once leveled by Kenya Defense Forces troops serving under AMISOM but damaged by recent heavy rains.
The road rehabilitation exercise is part of the implementation of AMISOM's key priority programs under its revised CONOPs, which includes degrading the threat of the al-Shabab and securing main supply routes and population centers.
CONOPs provides a framework to guide the implementation of the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali Security Forces and the eventual exit of AU troops from Somalia.
