Mogadishu, Somalia: Ugandan troops under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and United Nations Guard Unit Eleven (UNGU XI) joined the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and United Nations agencies to commemorate World Environment Day with a strong call to end plastic pollution and promote environmental recovery.
Held at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, the event was marked under the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution” with the slogan “Restore the Land, Revive the Earth” and sub-theme “Heal the Soil, Review the Future.” Participants included representatives from AUSSOM, the FGS, the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), and the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).
The day featured environmental exhibitions and tree planting campaigns inside the UNSOS compound, signalling a collective military-civil push for sustainable practices in conflict-affected regions.
Ms Qurat-Al-Ain Sadozai, Director of Mission Support and Acting Head of UNSOS, warned of the escalating threat posed by plastic waste. “Eleven million tons of plastic waste enter ecosystems every year, causing an economic loss of between $300 and $600 billion,” she said, urging global attention to the crisis.
Ms Sadozai praised Somalia’s ongoing efforts to reduce plastic pollution, including its policy of burning plastic waste, and highlighted UNSOS initiatives such as reforestation drives, reusable materials promotion, and coastal clean-up projects aimed at building a circular economy.
AUSSOM’s Acting Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Adebayo Kareem, called for unity in action to protect the environment. He noted that climate change effects in Somalia—such as prolonged droughts and changing rainfall patterns—pose significant risks to peace and development. “We must embrace policy shifts and behavioural change to curb deforestation and plastic pollution,” he said.
Somalia’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, H.E. Lt Gen Bashir Mohamed Jama, described the commemoration as an opportunity to recommit to sustainability goals. He outlined government strategies that include promoting eco-friendly alternatives, strengthening public education, and scaling up waste management systems.
AUSSOM Force Commander, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, stressed the link between environmental destruction and insecurity. “Damage to the environment threatens long-term peace and stability,” he said, urging all stakeholders to urgently tackle plastic pollution and conserve natural ecosystems.
UNGU XI, led by Commanding Officer Lt Col Peter Ruyogoza Barigye, planted trees within their compound as a symbolic and practical action. “On this World Environment Day, we are taking a step toward a more sustainable Somalia. By planting these trees, we are investing in the future of our communities and our environment,” he said.
The event drew senior officials from UNSOS, delegates from the Federal Government of Somalia, AUSSOM partners, and UN personnel, underlining the importance of cross-sector collaboration in safeguarding the region’s environmental future.
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