Since it succeeded its hybrid predecessor in 2022, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, ATMIS has morphed into a multi-faceted operation not necessarily limited to its peacekeeping role.
A cursory glance as its social media page provides a window of just how deeply involved ATMIS has been in other spheres of Somali life which have less to do with eliminating the security threat posed by al-Shabaab and more by improving the quality of life of people.
ATMIS is the successor to the hybrid African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) whose mandate was to help defeat the insurgents and reestablish peace and security in the Horn of Africa nation rocked by decades of conflict since the overthrow of its strongman Siad Barrie in the early 1990s.
Consisting of troops from the East African countries of Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, ATMIS succeeded AMISOM with a mandate for a gradual pullout from Somalia by the end of 2024.
Personnel of the Somali National Armed Forces are being trained to fill the void. In the meantime aside from peace and security, ATMIS had sought to positively impact all aspects of life in Somalia.
ATMIS helicopters successfully airlifted vital examination materials to over 21 locations, just days before the weeklong National High School Examinations which began on Saturday June 22nd.
This timely operation ensures that all children, even in hard-to-reach areas, can fully participate in the upcoming national exams, according to a statement seen by APA on Sunday.
At the request of the Ministry of Education, ATMIS Uganda and Burundi utility helicopters transported the exam materials from Mogadishu to four federal member states – Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Southwest, and Jubaland – as well as the Banadir region.
With few motoral roads, these examination locations are not easily accessible thanks to the conditions of the roads which are not motorable for long stretches.
The Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef emphasised the mission’s multifaceted role.
“While our primary mandate is maintaining security, we acknowledge that true peace and stability are built on a foundation of education and human development” he said.
”This support ensures that approximately 37,200 students across Somalia have equal access to education, regardless of their location, and will be prepared for future challenges and opportunities” he added.
And ATMIS have been involved in the campaign against gender-based violence.
Recently their police gender officers were in Waadi El-Jaale Health Centre in Beletweyne to sensitize local women on gender-based violence and its societal impact and pledged to continue with the campaign in communities where such incidents are still rife.
ATMIS presence in Somalia is also helping to shape communities and the ordinary lives of their people by giving them better access to water, repairing bridges, and upgrading healthcare, schools, and markets.
It’s personnel had also been involved in humanitarian work to benefit those displaced by Shabaab activity.
A case in point is when Maj. Mohamed Ahmed Youssouf, met with Baadicade traditional elder Wabar Mohamed Wabar Ahmed, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Bulabarde town.
ATMIS’s role in training Somali law enforcement officers to prepare them for the mission’s eventual exit from Somalia is also well documented.
A gradual drawdown of its troops has reached its last legs and last Thursday, ATMIS handed over control of the Jowhar Town Forward Operating Base (FOB) to the Somali National Force.
This is the second such base to be transferred as part of Phase Three of it troop drawdown.
WN/as/APA