APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
The African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has said that it has handed over nine military bases to the Somali government, marking the completion of the second phase of the troop withdrawal from the country.
Seven of the nine military bases were handed over on Monday at a ceremony held in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, the ATMIS said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“The drawdown of 3,000 troops and handover of the seven military bases, which conclude Bio Cadale, Raga Ceel, Parliament, State House, Qorillow, Burahache, and Kismayo Old Airport ENDF mark a watershed moment in the ongoing Somalia security transition process,” ATMIS said.
According to ATMIS, two other military bases – Sarille and Old Airport KDF. were closed.
Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, director of conflict management within the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of the African Union
Commission, who spoke at the event in Mogadishu, said that the drawdown marked a significant milestone in Somalia’s positive trajectory.
Bah said that the drawdown was also a testament to the critical progress made by Somalia since May 2022 under the visionary leadership of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
He stated that Somalia’s security forces have demonstrated incredible courage and resilience in degrading al-Shabab as part of sustaining security sector development.
“Our collective efforts have enabled us to carry out an orderly and smooth transition of 2,000 troops last year and this month 3,000
ATMIS troops through the handing over of seven key Forward Operating Bases (military bases),” Bah said.
He noted that the orderly transition has been due to the strong efforts of the tripartite committee of ATMIS, the Somali Government
and the UN Support Office in Somalia.
“The successful completion of this drawdown phase, notwithstanding significant challenges, including the El Nino, is a testament to the will of the Federal Government of Somalia to an orderly transition,” he said.
MG/GIK/APA