The United States government has supported the decision of the Somali government to the United Nations Security Council, which is to delay the withdrawal of African Union troops (ATMIS) for three months.
The US embassy in Somalia, Shane Dixon, who gave a private interview to one of the country’s local media, said that the US government will support Somalia’s request.
“The US Embassy will support the needs and requests of the Federal Government of Somalia,” Dixon said, noting that they always support the request to postpone the second phase of ATMIS withdrawal.
Somalia sent a request to the United Nations Security Council last week, seeking the withdrawal of 3,000 additional African Union troops from the country within 90 days.
The government has argued that the request for postponement is the reason for several delays, including the Al-Shabaab attack on Cosweyne in the Galgudud region, which is said to have exposed many gaps in the army.
An additional 3,000 ATMIS troops were expected to leave Somalia at the end of this month, in line with a UN Security Council resolution.
