After 15 years, AU mission paves way for ATMIS in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] has started transferring duties to the new mission ATMIS, in which will lead to a drastic reduction of troops from member contributing nations and employment of more technocrats.

AMISOM has been operating in Somalia for the last 15 years when the Al-Shabaab militants first struct and has a combined force of 22,000 soldiers picked from several countries among them Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia.

For the next two years, ATMIS, which is set to approve by the United Nations Security Council [UNSC], will be entrusted with the process of stabilizing Somalia with a clear goal of transferring duties to the Somali National Army [SNA].

The time frame and Concept of Operations [CONOPs] for the new mission will be adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council later this month, and by the UN Security Council before March 31, 2022, which is the definitive end date of Amisom’s mandate in Somalia, The East African reports.

Bankole Adeoye, the Nigerian diplomat who chairs the African Union Peace and Security Committee said last week that ATMIS will be delivered deferent from AMISOM because although it will retain combat active troops, it will also have a significant team of technocrats to draw up the country’s recovery from years of war.

“ATMIS is 100 percent aligned with the Somalia Transition Plan. This means that the strategy of the government of Somalia and the objective of ATMIS will be aligned. This is the number one factor that will make a difference,” Adeoye said, referring to the need to prevent a vacuum in the fight against terrorists, even as the partners build a full transition by end of 2023.

The federal government of Somalia had initially opposed the arrangement, calling for full implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP]. However, after a series of meetings, the teams agreed to form the new mission.

A brief report released by Villa Somalia after the meeting shows a preliminary agreement had been reached by the Somali leader and the AU official on the transfer of duties from Amisom to ATMIS.

“We trust Somalia’s own forces will assume full responsibility of their country’s security as ATMIS assures transition,” the AU envoy said after the meeting which was also attended by Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission [SRCC] for Somalia and Head of Amisom.

Brigadier Jattani Gula will be one of the new commanders who will help the Kenya Defense Forces transition to the new mission, having replaced Jeff Nyagah as commander of Sector II which is under the KDF.

Under Brig Nyagah’s command, Kenyan troops also embarked on a series of civic-military co-operation projects in a campaign to win the hearts of the community by addressing basic needs of the community such as health, education, and farming. This played a big role in improving relationships between the community and Amisom troops.

“I can assure you that the transition mission, ATMIS, will offer additional ways for Somalia to upgrade its forces, be the military, the police, the intelligence agency, and other state institutions to enable us to assume full responsibility of the country and its people’s security," Farmaajo said in a statement.

GAROWE ONLINE