For immediate release- Extremists urged to give peace a chance.

Mogadishu, September 21 – The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on
Tuesday pledged to continue supporting Somalia achieve lasting peace as well
as assist the needy population access free medical treatment. A mother and
child healthcare project was also launched.

 “Somalis are tired of the protracted war that has been going in their
country for the last 19 years and simply want to live in peace and enjoy
life like any other people in the world”, Somali leaders and AMISOM
officials reiterated at a ceremony to mark the African and World Peace Day
in Mogadishu.

Addressing a large crowd attending the colorful celebration hosted by AMISOM
and which was also attended by several government officials including
ministers, lawmakers and district commissioners from Wadajir and Dharkenlay
districts, two of Mogadishu’s safest districts. AMISOM Force Commander
General Nathan Mugisha reaffirmed AMISOM’s resolve to continue supporting
the Somali people and its government.

“AMISOM is only here to help the Somali people. This is why we have gathered
to celebrate the African and World Peace Day in Mogadishu. As part of these
twin celebrations we wish to urge the groups who are still fighting the
government to cease fire even for a day to give the Somali population a
breathing space. If they do so I don’t know why they cannot cease fire for
the rest of the other days, months and possibly years to come because
without peace Somalia cannot prosper and achieve development,” General
Mugisha said.

The General also launched a Mother and Child Healthcare Survival Project to
be undertaken by AMISOM in partnership with the Coalition of Grassroots
Women Organizations (COGWO). The project seeks to address health challenges
facing women and children who are the most vulnerable groups in Somalia.

In the last two days, AMISOM has also distributed sundries, beddings,
clothes, toys and other household items it received from various donors and
well-wishers to over 1000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s), patients and
other needy Somalia. These items were part of 14 containers that AMISOM
received from well-wishers and some of which were also handed over to the
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Resettlement and the Mayor of Mogadishu
for further distribution to the 16 districts in Mogadishu.

“The Somali people are ready to embrace peace, they are ready to live in
harmony and enjoy life just like any other people in the world. They have
been denied peace by a very  small group of Somalis  majority of who are
very young boys who have no knowledge of what peace is and who have been
mislead by foreign militants who have no regard for life or peace
whatsoever,” Mogadishu mayor Mahamud Ahmed Nur.
                                                   ENDS.