Ahead of ATMIS withdrawal, Military Staff concludes fact-finding mission in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The African Union Military Staff has concluded a fact-finding mission in Somalia, in which they assessed the security situation, just ahead of the anticipated withdrawal of peacekeepers from the country, after over 15 years of service.

Under the Somali Transition Plan [STP], the peacekeepers are scheduled to leave the country starting this month, with the first phase of drawdown targeting 2000 soldiers. Their gradual exit will pave the way for the full assumption of security responsibilities of the Somali National Army [SNA].

Early this week, the 23-member delegation mostly defense attaches from 17 African countries have already met ATMIS leadership and officials of the Federal Government of Somalia [FGS] to discuss exit.

On the drawdown of 2000 ATMIS Troops scheduled for the end of June, the SRCC and Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, said ATMIS remains committed to handing over security responsibilities to the FGS and preparations for troop reduction are far advanced and on schedule.

“What we have done for the drawdown was to establish a Tripartite Technical Committee which includes representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia [FGS], the United Nations Support Office to Somalia [UNSOS], and ATMIS to plan the details. This has been done in line with the agreed Concept of Operations [CONOPs] and UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670,” the SRCC and Head of ATMIS explained.

“We have agreed to hand over a number of Forward Operating Bases [FOBs] to the Federal Government of Somalia from June 15, 2023, as we reduce our numbers by 2000 soldiers”, the SRCC added.

The envoy has asked international partners to assist Somalia in pushing for the lifting of the arms embargo, adding that such an initiative will allow local troops to take full ownership of security operations in the country. Somalia's Defence Minister Abdikadir Mohamed Nur praised international actors for their dedication towards state-building in Somalia.

“The Ministry of Defence had taken the lead on this assignment and the handover and takeover are a testament that our Somali Security Forces have demonstrated their strength to take over security in their country,” said the Minister.

Recently, Somalia requested Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti to dispatch non-ATMIS troops to the country for a period of three months to assist in the impending crackdown against Al-Shabaab, with the second phase set to commence in Jubaland and Southwest states.

“As troop-contributing countries to the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] we agreed that the upcoming IGAD Summit should address the Somalia transition plan while safeguarding the gains made by AMISOM/ATMIS,” Kenya's President William Ruto said during the IGAD summit in Djibouti.

ATMIS has played a key role in dismembering Al-Shabaab militants, but the 22,000-strong force has until December 2024 to permanently leave Somalia. The government of Somalia has emphasized that it is committed to degrading the militants but notes the international community has a role to play in supporting the course.

GAROWE ONLINE