Post
by AbyssiniaLady » 19 Nov 2024, 16:34
ATMIS completes third phase of troops' drawdown in Somalia
Friday, November 15, 2024
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Thursday announced the completion of Phase Three of its drawdown, which included a reduction of 2,000 soldiers from the mission's forces.
ATMIS said it had handed over the Burgavo military base in Jubaland State in southern Somalia, marking the final base transferred to the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) in this phase.
"This milestone demonstrates the growing capacity and commitment of the Somali Security Forces to take over Somalia's security responsibilities, SNAF representative Sakariye Mohamed Omar expressed gratitude for the contributions of ATMIS KDF troops.
Since 2023, ATMIS has implemented a three-phase drawdown process, handing over 21 military bases to Somali Security Forces and withdrawing 9,000 troops. This marks a significant step toward Somalia taking full responsibility for its security.
In January 2025, a new mission, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), will replace ATMIS. AUSSOM will be a multidimensional mission comprising military, police and civilian components, authorized by the AU and mandated by the UN Security Council.
Source: Worldwide media outlets.
Since the start of the drawdown in 2023, A total of 9,000 ATMIS troops had been withdrawn. The last batch of troops is scheduled to leave Somalia on 31 December 2024.
