New leader expected at AU mission in Somalia after Madeira diplomatic tiff

Francisco Madeira.

Envoy Francisco Madeira at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 26, 2018. PHOTO | CHRIS STEIN | AFP

The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia is expected to have a new leader in the coming days after the relationship between the host government and the head of the mission soured last week.

Diplomatic sources told The EastAfrican it would be “unrealistic” for Francisco Madeira to return to Somalia after the country stripped him of diplomatic privileges.