African Union summit starts in Kampala Uganda

Despite the recent Al-Shabaab-inspired twin suicide bombings that killed more than 70 people, the Ugandan government seems prepared to get underway the African Union summit scheduled to start today in the country’s capital, Uganda. The theme of the summit will be maternal and child health. The summit’s theme is intertwined with food security and nutrition security. The theme for the 15th ordinary session of the assembly of African heads of state is, “Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa.”

African heads of state and government are scheduled to participate in the summit that is also expected to focus on peace and security, infrastructure, energy, agriculture and food security. The Somali hard-line Islamic insurgent group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the two suicide bombings that killed at least 76 people in Kampala last week. The terror group further warned of more attacks if Ugandan soldiers continue to serve as peacekeepers helping the internationally-backed Somali administration against the insurgents. Currently, both Uganda and Burundi contribute about 5,500 peacekeeping troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), helping President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s Transitional Federal Government to stabilize the country.

Al-Shabaab has refused to recognize the Somali administration and has vowed to overthrow the government to implement the strictest form of the Sharia Law. A lot of people have expressed concern saying the African Union summit could be another viable target for the Somali insurgents. But Ugandan government officials have re-assured the African delegates scheduled to attend the summit of their safety. According to officials, the recent bombings have been extremely unfortunate and they condemn it. But the country had already put in place extra measures like, in security, they have improved greatly since the attacks. Officials wanted to assure everyone that security is under control.