African Union to withdraw 2,000 troops from Somalia

Some 2,000 troops from the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) in Somalia will be withdrawn by the end of this month.

It is expected that a total of seven Forward Operating Bases will also officially be handed over to the Somali National Army (SNA) by the end of June as well.

This will be the first major test for the SNA as it assumes security responsibilities.

Five countries from the region including Kenya will transfer the security responsibility to the Horn of Africa country in the first phase.

During the official handover on Tuesday, the ATMIS said the Somali security forces took control of the Haji-Ali military base in Hirshabelle State, marking the official start of the drawdown by June 30.

“It is a significant step today by ATMIS, following the previous assessment visit to the FOBs by the Senior Leadership teams from ATMIS, SNA and UNSOS,” said the Commander of ATMIS BNDF 2nd Battle Group in Xaaji Cali, Lt. Col. Richard Bimenyimana.

From the deployment of AMISOM, the precursor to ATMIS, the AU force has been instrumental in liberating the capital Mogadishu and 80 per cent of Somalia territory from Al Shabaab control.

“We have always had good working relations with ATMIS throughout their operations here. Now that they are handing over as mandated, we are happy to take over security responsibilities,” SNA Commander Maj. Bashir Abukar Ahmed stated.

The handover comes just a month after a dawn attack by Al Shabaab militants at a Forward Operating Base in Buulo Mareer that was being manned by Ugandan troops.

Another drawdown of 3,000 soldiers is expected by September.