Somalia lines up 20,000 soldiers for security take over ahead of ATMIS exit

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has prepared 20,000 soldiers for security take over ahead of the planned exit of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], following implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP] which will see over 2,000 soldiers leave the country from this month.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre confirmed that the country has prepared over 20,000 soldiers to take over security responsibilities, adding that the team has been adequately trained. Most of those set for takeover graduated from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Uganda .

The first batch of 2,000 soldiers will leave the country this month with African Union projecting that in the next few months, the complete withdrawal would have been finalized. It is assumed that by December 2024, the ATMIS soldiers would have left the Horn of Africa nation.

Already, ATMIS commanders have met their counterparts from the US Africa Command to discuss the take over given that the American troops have also been playing an integral role in boosting security in the country.

Force Commander Lt. General Sam Okiding said the discussions with the US and representatives from the federal government of Somalia discussed the impending hand over of security responsibilities in the country. Okiding is overseeing implementation of the Somali Transition Plan.

“The U.S. is one of our international partners. They have also injected a lot of resources into this mission and we have discussed various issues about ensuring peace and stability in Somalia,” said Lt. Gen. Okiding after the meeting.

Rear Admiral Jamie Sands of the US army, on his part said the United States will continue to support peace efforts in Somalia as the country takes full responsibility for securing the country.

“We discussed the common security challenges posed by the Al-Shabaab militants and ways to counter this security threat. We also discussed ways to continually support Somalia to sustain the achievements by ATMIS,” he said.

The US and ATMIS have been participating in Somalia peace keeping processes, and have also been part of the teams neutralizing Al-Shabaab militants in the country. Statistics show that Al-Shabaab militants have been degraded by a large extent due to concerted effort.

GAROWE ONLINE