Somalia’s National Security Advisor dismisses reports of ATMIS term extension

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia’s presidential advisor on security Hussein Sheikh Ali has dismissed media reports that the Horn of African nation was seeking an extended stay of the African Union troops as ‘false reporting.’

Reacting to an article by the Kenyan-based The East African newspaper which claimed Somalia was mulling a term extension for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Ali said Somalia was focused on handover of security responsibilities.

“This is false reporting. The Federal Government of Somalia is committed to taking responsibility for security in Somalia from ATMIS as it mandated UNSC resolutions 2628 and 2670 by the 31st of December 2024.”

We are focused on a post-ATMIS eventuality, the two-time National Security Advisor said. The East African had reported on Sunday that Mogadishu has ‘launched a shuttle diplomacy to lobby the international community and influential leaders in the region to agree to the extension.’

It added that the proposal to extend ATMIS stay band “has been mooted” but there is nothing concrete yet as the idea is “still in the corridors” of the Federal Government of Somalia leaders and some other stakeholders that Mogadishu has reached out to.

ATMIS is expected to end its two year mandate in Somalia in December 31, 2024.