The senior officials of the African Union, Somalia, and the United Nations have started consultation meetings to discuss the second phase of ATMIS troop reduction, in September, according to the African Union mission.
The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is expected to reduce its troop numbers by an additional 3,000 next month after successfully withdrawing 2,000 soldiers, and handing over six to the government. military base in June.
Mohammed El-Amine Souef, the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Somalia and head of Atmis, said that a joint technical committee comprising members of Atmis, the government, and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) They are meeting to design the military bases where 3,000 soldiers will be deployed.
“Since we are conducting active combat operations, reduction planning must be well coordinated and properly implemented so that the gains made so far are not jeopardized,” Souef said in a statement in Mogadishu.
During the meeting in Mogadishu, Souef praised the UN and the government for their continuous support and cooperation with Atmis to ensure the success of the first phase.
UNSOS chief Aisa Kirabo Kacyira told the technical committee to consider the lessons learned from the first phase, to ensure the success of the second phase.
“The United Nations will ensure that the equipment and other facilities handed over to the Somali security forces when the Atmis forces leave are in good condition, and the Somali forces have the ability to use them,” Kacyira said.
Under UN Security Council Resolution 2687 (2023), Somalia and the African Union are required to conduct a technical assessment by the end of August to assess Phase One of the reduction, and provide additional information by September 15. about the preparations for the second phase.a
The drawdown of ATMIS forces is mandated by UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670, which stipulate that ATMIS will gradually transfer security responsibility to the Somali security forces before Somalia’s withdrawal on December 31, 2024.
