Ex-army chief: Somalia forces ready to take over security responsibilities

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army (SNA) and the police force are capable of taking over security responsibilities once the foreign troops leave, a former senior security officer has said, arguing that the investments made can protect the country's security systems.

The Somali Transition Plan (STP) dictates that all foreign troops serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) will have to leave upon the implementation of the plan. Already, ATMIS has started the strategic withdrawal of its troops from Somalia.

General Dahir Aden Elmi, the former Somalia army chief, told the Voice of America that the country's security systems are ready to take over once the foreign mission troops leave completely from different parts of Somalia, where they have played a role of restoration of peace.

In this extensive interview with VOA, he says Somali forces are capable of taking over the security responsibility. He believes Somalis should have faith in themselves and quit relying on foreign forces in the near future.

"We have trained a mission-capable force," Dahir said. "We expect these troops to take over from the foreign troops soonest as we fight for stability of our country and lasting peace. Some of the remaining issues can be solved locally."

"The foreign mission troops have helped the country's army to stabilize. I have no doubt about their capabilities and this is something we need to appreciate as a country. We are ready to go," he added, noting the high level of training by local forces.

Last week, Somalia’s National Security Advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali maintained that Ethiopian troops serving in ATMIS ought to leave at the end of the expiry of their mandate, sighting 'internal interference' of the country's politics, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.

ATMIS has started gradual withdrawal of troops, with 5,000 leaving by December 2023 and an additional 5,000 expected to leave by June 2024. Some of elite troops in Somalia get training from the US Africa Command and the Turkish-Somalia mission.

GAROWE ONLINE