Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has completed Phase Two drawdown, reducing the troop count by 3000 soldiers and transferred seven Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and closed two others. 

The FOBs transferred include State House and Parliament from ATMIS Uganda People’s Defence Forces in Sector One; Bio Cadale, Raga Ceel, and Qorillow from ATMIS Burundi National Defence Forces in Sector Five; Burahache from ATMIS Kenya Defence Forces in Sector Two; and Old Airport from ATMIS Ethiopia National Defence Forces in Sector Six according to a statement yesterday.

ATMIS said that the FOBs in Sarille and Old Kismayo Airport, were closed – both were from ATMIS Kenya Defence Forces in Sector Six and Two respectively. 

African Union Special Representative for Somalia and Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, and Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh Ali, signed the Land Release Title Agreement.

He reaffirmed the African Union’s unwavering commitment to Somalia’s Transition process, emphasizing that the African Union stands ready to support ongoing efforts towards achieving lasting peace, security, and stability. 

Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh-Ali, thanked the African Union, United Nations and international partners for their sacrifice and dedication in pursuit of peace and security in Somalia. 

“We thank the African union for your sacrifices to Somalia. To the international community and partners, we thank you for standing with us in the fight to keep our country safe and secure. I want to assure the public that this drawdown is real, and it is happening. ATMIS is ending and we are progressing towards a future where Somalia’s safety and security will be self-sustained, without ATMIS,” said the National Security Advisor. 

“Our collective efforts have been significant to drawing down a total of 5000 troops in both Phase One and Two. We will soon start preparations for the next phase, Phase Three, to reduce our numbers by 4000 troops in June. I am confident in our continued success based on our united and cohesive approach. For us, failure is not an option,” Lt. Gen. Okiding emphasized.

ATMIS drawdown comes 17 years of troops presence in major cities in the south and central Somalia, fighting along side with Somali National Army, but the offensive war on Al-Shabaab militants seems to intensifying at moment.