Maxaas(Mogadishu24)-The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has on Wednesday officially handed over the Maxaas Forward Operating Base (FOB) to the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) as part of the ongoing Phase Three drawdown. This FOB, located in the Hiiran region, is the sixth military facility transferred to SNAF.

During the handover ceremony, ATMIS Military Chief Logistics Officer, Col. Bosco Sibondavyi, praised the efforts of Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and SNAF in safeguarding the local community and securing the region. SNA representative Lt. Hussein Mohamed reiterated SNAF’s readiness to take on security responsibilities and combat Al-Shabaab militants.

Patrick Duah, Chief of Transition Planning for the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), highlighted the critical role of UNSOS in supporting the Somali Transition Plan and the broader peacebuilding process. To aid the transition, UNSOS provided logistical assistance and gifted SNAF with essential equipment, including generators, boreholes, and water bladders, to enhance camp utility and life support.

Despite the security challenges and technical pauses in the withdrawal process, the handover activities continue. Local forces, with the support of the Federal Government, successfully liberated eastern parts of the Hiiran region during the 2022 uprising. However, Al-Shabaab has recaptured or attacked several FOBs in southern parts of the country following ATMIS withdrawals, underscoring the ongoing security challenges in the region.

The handover of the Maxaas FOB marks a significant step in the continued efforts to strengthen Somali national security and build a stable, self-reliant military force.