ATMIS declares troop withdrawal successful as Somalia evaluates first stage of handover

Описание: ATMIS declares troop withdrawal successful as Somalia evaluates first stage of handover

A high-level delegation from the African Union headed by the Director of Conflict Management, Dr. Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, has concluded a working visit to Somalia to evaluate the first stage of a planned troop withdrawal, which was successfully concluded at the end of last month.

The first phase of the transition involved the drawdown of 2,000 troops serving with ATMIS and the handover of six Forward Operating Bases (FOBS) to the Somali Security Forces.

Dr. Bah said that in compliance with Resolution 2687 (2023), a joint technical assessment would be conducted next month to inform planning for the next stage – the drawdown of 3,000 ATMIS troops to be completed by end of September.

The AU official also met with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Catriona Laing, and the Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Aisa Kirabo Kacyira.

They discussed the UN’s role in peacebuilding, reconciliation, the drawdown, and transfer of security responsibilities.

“We are at a very critical period, and I am quite impressed by the enthusiasm, the level of cooperation and the sense that we are all pulling in the same direction that is extremely useful,” Dr Bah noted.

Commenting on security, the Director praised Somalia’s President, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, for the tremendous progress in driving a Somali-led security transformation during a first term of office.