Somalia asks UN to pause withdrawal of ATMIS troops

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Republic of Somalia has asked the United Nations Security Council to reconsider the withdrawal of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] troops, arguing that the ongoing drawdown should be paused for three months due to security challenges in the country.

Tentatively, it is anticipated that by December 2024, over 20,000 soldiers will have been in the country, handing over security responsibilities to the Somali National Army [SNA]. Already, 2000 soldiers have left and an additional 3,000 are expected to leave by the end of September.

But Hussein Sheikh Ali, the presidential security advisor, and other top government officials have written to the security organ, calling for a technical pause of withdrawal of the AU troops, adding that such a move will enable the country to put certain logistics in play.

Somalia "formally requests a technical pause in the drawdown of the 3,000 African Union Transition in Somalia uniformed personnel by three months," the letter read.

According to the letter, if continued under the current plan, the pullout would mean the departure of 3,000 troops by the end of September.

A diplomatic source in the government who requested anonymity because of a lack of authority to comment on the issue confirmed to VOA the authenticity of the letter. The source said the government wants to buy time for its effort to have an arms embargo lifted — a campaign supported by Ethiopia and Uganda, two regional powers.

“Somalia believes its campaign for lifting the U.N. arms embargo depends on proving that it can take responsibility for its security without the dependence of AU peacekeepers, so it can better fight al-Shabab terrorists. At the same time, it does not want ATMIS [the African Transition Mission in Somalia] with its stronger military hardware to leave the country in the middle of an unpredictable war with al-Shabab,” the diplomat said. “It is buying time.”

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre asked the United Nations General Assembly to reconsider lifting the arms embargo on the country to allow Somalia to acquire sophisticated weapons that can be used for the Al-Shabaab war. The militants have been fighting the government for the last 17 years.

The Somali government had repeatedly said it would be ready to take over security responsibilities from ATMIS when those troops withdrew from the country, in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2687. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud believes Al-Shabaab militants will be defeated.

The government insists that the offensive against Al-Shabaab has managed to liberate several strategic towns across the country, adding that there is a need for more support for local security troops to fully take over security responsibilities in the Horn of Africa nation.

The government letter said the military operation had suffered. "Several significant setbacks" have occurred since late August, the letter said, following a deadly dawn attack by the militants on a newly captured base in the village of Cowsweyne, Galguduud region, in central Somalia.

As a result of the attack, the Somali military suffered heavy losses, forcing other military units to retreat from towns and villages captured in recent months in the same region.

"This unforeseen turn of events has stretched our military forces thin, exposed vulnerabilities in our front lines, and necessitated a thorough reorganization to ensure we maintain our momentum in countering the al-Shabab threat," the letter said.

"We hold firm in our belief that this technical pause will, in the long run, contribute to the enduring peace, stability, and prosperity of Somalia," it said, adding that the government remained fully committed to the complete ATMIS drawdown by the end-of-2024 deadline.

Al-Shabaab is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia, but a concerted effort by security forces has enabled the country to stay afloat. The second phase of operations against the militants is set to be activated in the next few months according to the government.

GAROWE ONLINE