ATMIS to start withdrawal from Somalia amid progress in fight against al-Shabaab
Amid continuous progress by
the Somali Armed Forces in their fight against al-Shabaab terrorist movement,
the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said it may withdraw
almost 2,000 military personnel from Somalia in June 2023.
UN Security
Council resolutions
ATMIS said the gradual
withdrawal of troops is in line with UN Security Council decisions to withdraw
approximately 200 military personnel in June 2023, and hand over liberated
areas to the Somali Armed Forces.
In the same context, AMIS
Commander Maj. Gen. Marius Ngendabanka said the
withdrawal of 2,000 military personnel would not affect the security of key
government facilities, if the special security forces of Somalia take over
responsibility.
Gradual
reduction
In 2022, the UN Security
Council announced the formation of a new African Union peacekeeping force in
Somalia, whose mission would be to combat al-Shabaab.
The council said the
mission would be reduced gradually to zero in December 2023.
The al-Qaeda-leaning al-Shabaab
has entered a state of great weakness, as a result of the military operation
launched by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and successfully
implemented by the army and police forces throughout the country.
Ebb and flow
The military operation
launched by President Mohamud has achieved great successes during the recent
period.
This undermined the terrorist
movement, something that was confirmed by the Somali government on May 4, 2023.
It said al-Shabaab's
attacked dropped by 70%, as a result of the military successes achieved by the current
war on terrorism.
The movement is now
collapsing in Somalia, as disagreements and defections hit its leadership, with
the army intensifying its strikes on its positions.
Transitional
phase
According to a statement
by the Somali government, 80% of liberated cities are currently enjoying a
state of significant security stability.
It added that this opens
the door for the implementation of development projects in in these cities.
African affairs
specialist, Samar Abdullah, said Somalia now prepares for a new stage by taking
over all security responsibility with the first withdrawal ATMIS troops.
"The troops were deployed
only one year ago," Abdullah told The Reference.
She referred to
preparations by the mission to withdraw 2,000 troops by next June 30.
"This reflects the
credibility of the African Union which plans to end the ATMIS mission by
December 31, 2024," Abdullah added.
