3,000 more AU troops to leave Somalia by September- UNSC

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NEW YORK: The African Union will withdraw an additional 3,000 troops from Somalia at the end of September ahead of the complete pull-out in December 2024 as the AU mission wraps up its close to two decades of operation in the Horn of Africa nation.

According to Resolution 2687 (2023) of June 27, the UN Security Council authorised the African Union to ‘deploy up to 17,626 uniformed personnel to ATMIS until 30 September 2023, and 14,626 personnel to ATMIS from 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2023.’

The withdrawal of 2,000 which was scheduled to start on June 30 now leaves 17,626 armed personnel up until the end of September.

The UN Security Council also called on the African Union to ‘implement the Phase 2 drawdown to 14,626 personnel jointly with the Government of Somalia as informed by the findings of the Joint Technical Assessment.’

The Security Council set out three roles for ATMIS namely; maintaining enabling support for peace and security in Somalia, supporting FGS-led operations against Al-Shabaab and preparing for its smooth drawdown and exit from Somalia as planned.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) completed the handover of all the seven Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) yesterday. The bases are Xaaji Cali, Miirtugo, Cadale, Albao, Gherille, Aljazeera 1 and Marka Ayub.