Somalia vows to work with new Amisom commander

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeepers from Burundi patrol in a truck after fighting between insurgents and government soldiers erupted on the outskirts of Mogadishu in this May 22, 2012. (Photo: Reuters)

The Somalia government has pledged to work with the newly-appointed African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) force commander to flush Al Shabaab militants out of the Horn of Africa nation.

Internal Security Minister Abdirisak Omar Mohamed said security forces will work with Lt Gen Osman Noor Soubagleh to ensure the insurgents are defeated and peace is restored to the country.

"I have worked with Gen Soubagleh in the past; he is someone who can make change," Mohamed said in a statement issued Monday.

Somalia's Chief of Defence Forces, Major Gen Mohamed Aden Ahmed, urged Somali security forces to work closely with Amisom to ensure their joint operations have a lasting positive impact.