Ethiopian troops leave a military base in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army (SNA) took over a strategic base from the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), who have been serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a peacekeeping mission team in the Horn of Africa nation.

The SNA troops are now in charge of the Madhamato Forward Operating Base (FOB) within Kismayo, which had been under the Ethiopian soldiers, who exited the mission in the ongoing drawdown of troops from the country in compliance with the Somali Transition Plan.

SNA’s 43rd Division commander Gen. Mohamed Mohamud, and Security Minister Gen. Yusuf Dhumal were present during the handover, state media reports. The drawdown was okayed by the United Nations Security Council.

"Somali National Armed Forces takes over the Madhamato Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kismayo from the ATMIS Ethiopian contingent as part of the second phase of the ATMIS troop drawdown," state media reported in a statement.

"SNA’s 43rd Division commander Gen. Mohamed Mohamud, and Security Minister Gen. Yusuf Dhumal were present during the handover," the media further reported.

By the end of December 2023, at least 5,000 soldiers had withdrawn from Somalia and the last batch is expected to leave by December 2024. The Somali National Army is assuming security responsibilities as part of a long-term strategy to stabilize the country.

Somalia is fighting al-Shabaab militants who still control large swathes of rural central and southern regions, but have been significantly degraded. The Somali National Army has been fighting the militants alongside the US Africa Command and ATMIS forces.

GAROWE ONLINE