Foreign and defense ministers from troop contributing countries to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) met here Saturday to discuss ways to coordinate their ongoing operations in the volatile horn of African country.

Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa, who is also chair of the meeting,said at the opening of the one-day meeting that it was an opportunity to assess the successes, challenges and the future of AMISOM.

He said the existing cooperation between the Somali government, international partners and troop contributing countries was critical to the security gains.

"It is essential that this support continues and is carried out by all in a well-coordinated manner, in order to consolidate the security gains made and deny giving extremist groups like Al-Shabaab," he said.

"As troop contributing countries it is also essential that we remain steadfast in our resolve and determination so that the sacrifices we have made are not in vain," he added.

The meeting came at a time when some Somali officials have accused one of the troop contributing countries for interfering in the internal politics of the country.

The meeting's outcome will feed into the summit of AMISOM troops contributing countries, which will also be held here on Sunday.

The troop contributing countries include Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda.