ATMIS facing setbacks over financial challenges

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is facing financial challenges which threaten to jeopardize the gains it has so far made in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

This comes as the last troops are expected to exit the country by December 2024 even as the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) says that the ATMIS operation has played a major role in reducing attacks by the Al-Shabaab militia group.

Members of the AU’s 15-member Security Council, which deals with peace and security issues in the continent say lack of funds could claw back on gains made by ATMIS in Somalia which may pose a new security challenge in the country.

During this year’s African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, the financial challenge concern was raised and an appeal was made to the United Nations to convene a crisis meeting to discuss ways to fund ATMIS.

While the African Union plans to end its peacekeeping mission in Somalia, increasing concern over the future of the fight against Al-Shabaab has risen at a time when the Somali government forces have mounted operations against the militants in various regions of the country.

Somali Forces have managed to push Al-shabaab out of several areas in the operations which are being supported by citizens of these regions – a key advantage to the army.