ATMIS commander: Somali army now capable of tackling Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] has shown capabilities of tackling the Al-Shabaab menace, a top commander gas said while citing gains made by the military in the ongoing crackdown against the group which controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

For the last couple of months, the military with the assistance of local militia has managed to liberate several villages, some of which are strategic across the country. The villages were being used as stations for the training of the Al-Shabaab militants

Outgoing African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] commander Lieutenant General Diomede Ndegeya says the capacity of the army has significantly improved, adding that they are a possibility that they will be able to take charge of the country.

“The Somali people need peace because they have suffered for far too long,” he is quoted as saying in an ATMIS statement which adds that since September under the leadership of the new government, the local population “joined hands in the fight against Al Shabaab”.

“There is the political will to defeat terrorism in Somalia,” said the three-star, whose tour of duty after arriving in Somalia in August 2020 to take over from Lieutenant General Tigabu Yilma of Ethiopia, is over.

In a farewell message, Ndegeya said SNA’s ability to attack, defeat the enemy and hold ground was a critical indicator it was growing into a force capable of taking full responsibility for national security as well as the protection of the country and its citizens.

The Burundian general was key in transitioning of African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] to ATMIS which saw a number of Forward Operating Bases handed to the Somali National Army. Some of these bases include Afgoye, Marianguwaay, and elsewhere.

As outgoing force commander Ndegeya hailed the international community for providing financial and logistic support to AU troops. He is set to be replaced by a Kenyan according to the rotational rules of the mission.

“We wouldn’t be able to achieve as much in Somalia without our partners. I thank them for their support and appeal to them to do more and not become fatigued,” the statement has him saying.

“With ATMIS and Somali Security Forces working together Somalia held what was, in the end, largely fair, peaceful, and credible elections.”

After three years, it is anticipated that the Somali National Army would immediately take over the security responsibilities of the country. The government of Somalia recently requested the redeployment of US Africa Command officers who had been withdrawn, a request which was honoured by President Joe Biden.

GAROWE ONLINE