African Union pushes for support to Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] believes for Somalia to effectively fight violent extremism and stabilize, there is an urgent need for the international community to invest in the Somali National Army [SNA] which is bound to take over security responsibilities.

SNA forces are currently involved in the crackdown against Al-Shabaab militants in central and southern Somalia and have made serious milestones including killing over 4,000 militants in the last 12 months according to the government of Somalia.

ATMIS chief Mohamed El-Amine Souef says the Somali army needs not just training but weapons, equipment, and skills for the officers, and lifting the arms embargo so that the country can buy weapons. Souef, who spoke to VOA, said Somalia's young force deserves support from international partners.

"You saw what happened in Israel, the issue between Hamas and Israel, immediately their partners, including the United States, they immediately took [a] decision to support Israel in terms of weapons and ammunition," he said, citing the Israel-Hamas war, which triggered the U.S. sending emergency military aid within a matter of days.

"I think the Somalis are now struggling with embargo … that embargo should be lifted."

According to him, Troops Contributing Countries have decided to donate military equipment, vehicles, and guns to the Somali National Army ahead of the full withdrawal scheduled for December 2024. Somalia recently requested a technical pause on the withdrawal of ATMIS troops due to logistical challenges.

"It has been delayed officially for three months," he confirmed, following the request by the Somali government which had written to the United Nations Security Council.

Asked if the Somali government is underestimating the magnitude of the task of taking over responsibilities from the AU and fighting al-Shabab, Souef said there is a "political will" in Somalia to take over security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.

"The most important is the political will," he said. "The political will is there, and then the Somalis don't want to be assisted forever. They want to take their ownership. They are working very hard."

In June 2023, the ATMIS team had withdrawn 2,000 soldiers from various Forward Operating Bases in Somalia, which have since been taken by the Somali National Army. The army is expected to take full security responsibility from ATMIS in January 2025.

Kamal Dahir Hassan Gutale, national security adviser to Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre told VOA that the government has trained 9,700 soldiers since taking office in May 2022, and had an additional 3,000 troops trained in Eritrea.

Gutale said the government is confident Somali troops will assume responsibility after the 90-day pause, and after completion of the next drawdown scheduled for June 2024, when 5,000 AU troops will be leaving.

"It is something we are taking very seriously, and now it is our responsibility to fill the gap," he said.

Somalia has been battling Al-Shabaab for the last 16 years and in the process, the militants have lost several strategic towns besides losing many fighters on the battlefield. The Somali National Army and ATMIS have also paid the price, losing a number of soldiers and military hardware.

GAROWE ONLINE