African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to Withdrawal 3000 Troops

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), in conjunction with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), jointly declared the recommencement of the second phase of troop withdrawal from Somalia in December.

Following the directive outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2710 (2023), ATMIS will withdraw 3,000 troops and hand over control of eight Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) by the end of December 2023. Initially scheduled to conclude by September 2023, this process was paused at the request of the Federal Government for a technical review.

Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the Head of ATMIS, together with Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh Ali, and Head of UNSOS, Assistant Secretary-General Dr. Aisa Kacyira Kirabo, made the announcement during a joint media briefing at Villa Somalia in Mogadishu.

Ambassador Souef highlighted the collaborative efforts among ATMIS, FGS, and UNSOS to recommence the troop withdrawal in line with directives from the African Union and the UN Security Council.

Dr. Aisa Kacyira Kirabo, Head of UNSOS, expressed gratitude for the close cooperation between ATMIS and FGS and affirmed their readiness to continue logistical support for ongoing operations during the drawdown.

Hussein Sheikh Ali, Somalia’s National Security Advisor, reaffirmed FGS’s commitment to adhere to the established timelines, asserting that the Somali Security Forces are prepared to take over control of the eight Forward Operating Bases.

He urged the Somali populace to support the transition process, emphasising the commitment of both the Somali government and the international community to ensure the country assumes security responsibilities by December 2024.

The media briefing, attended by high-ranking officials from ATMIS, FGS, and UNSOS, addressed the resumption of the troop withdrawal, which follows the first phase concluded in June. In that phase, ATMIS withdrew 2,000 troops and transferred control of seven Forward Operating Bases to the Somali Security Forces, complying with UN Security Council Resolutions 2687 and 2670.

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Source: African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS)