AU Delegation Concludes Post-ATMIS Plan Talks in Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: A delegation from the African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (AU PAPS) has concluded a four-day consultation with Somali government officials and other security partners as part of the transition process.

The consultations are in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2741 (2024) which requests the completion of a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for an African Union-led peace support operation to be submitted to the UN Security Council by 31 July 2024.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is set to fully withdraw from Somalia by the end of this year.

The nine-member delegation held discussions with the ATMIS senior leadership team, officials from the Federal Government of Somalia, and representatives of ATMIS Troop-Contributing Countries (TCCs).

They also met with Somalia’s international partners, including the United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates, who are part of the Core Security Partners Group (CSPG). The AU Director of Conflict Management in the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department, Dr. Alhaji Sarjo Bah, joined the meeting virtually.

The AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, said the discussions focused on the size, mandate, timelines, and exit strategy of the new post-ATMIS mission.

“We are talking about exit strategy because, once established, a mission should have an exit plan. The African Union will not remain in Somalia forever. All these aspects were brought to the attention of the partners and discussed at the meeting,” said Ambassador Souef.

Ambassador Souef noted that while Somalia has achieved security milestones since African Union troops were first deployed in 2007, Al-Shabaab terror group remain a threat to Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region, including the international shipping route through the Indian Ocean.

The AU Peace Support Operations (PSOD) Chief of Plans, Operations and Support, Colonel Billy Atwooki Winter, who led the delegation, said the consultations with various partners on post-ATMIS security arrangements for Somalia had been fruitful.

“As we go back to Addis Ababa, we are taking a package of issues raised after all these consultations, which will be comprehensively put together and a final Concept of Operations (CONOPS) developed and shared with relevant stakeholders accordingly,” said Col. Atwooki Winter.