ATMIS Begins Phase Two of Withdrawal troops from Somalia

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has kicked off the second phase of troop drawdown from Somalia that follows the United Nations Security Council Resolutions: 2628 (2022), 2670 (2022), and 2687 (2023), which mandates ATMIS to drawdown two thousand soldiers by June 2023 and a further three thousand by the end of September 2023.

The successful first phase of the drawdown saw the exit of 2000 military troops and the handover of six forward operating bases in June 2023. However, the federal government of Somalia previously clarified its unwavering commitment to take the responsibility to secure the country.

ATMIS officials said the transfer of security responsibility was a testament to Somalia’s leadership in rebuilding the country, protecting the population, and ensuring security and stability.

They also acknowledged developments on the battlefield where Somalia Security Forces have demonstrated their increasing capability to secure the country and added that, “professionally trained and well-equipped Somalia Security Force are game-changers in the fight against terrorism in Somalia.”