Somalia: HirShabelle State expresses concern over AU troop withdrawal

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia’s HirShabelle State President holds a crucial meeting with AMISOM on planned African Union troops cut back

President Mohamed Abdi Waare, on Saturday, held consultations with the senior leadership of the African Union Mission in Somalia on the planned cut back in troops from Burundi.

The troops are expected to drawdown by one-thousand soldiers this February, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2431(2018).

The Resolution authorizes the member states of the African Union to reduce the number of uniformed AMISOM personnel by 28 February 2019 without “further delay”. The first reduction of troops from Somalia was undertaken in December 2017.

“We have been discussing with President Waare on how we can implement the Transition Plan in a manner that still ensures security in his state,” Ambassador Madeira said after a closed-door with President Waare.

Burundi troops operating under AMISOM have their main base in Jowhar, the administrative capital of HirShabelle State and in several Forward Operating Bases in the State.

“The transition plan is finally becoming a reality and there are painful decisions that have to be taken,” President Waare observed.

The HirShabelle President expressed concern that if hurriedly implemented, the troops’ drawdown would leave his State vulnerable to attacks. He noted that there is still work to be done to ensure successful implementation of the Transition Plan, adding that HirShabelle State will closely work with AMISOM to ensure gains made in stabilizing the country are not eroded.

“Late last year, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Troop and Police Contributing Countries met and approved AMISOM’s Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for the transition period. The document is important, as it will guide how the transition plan will be implemented,” Ambassador Madeira assured President Waare.

The HirShabelle President was accompanied by the HirShabelle State Minister of Internal Security, Abdulkadir Adan Jelle, State Minister in-charge of the Presidency, Ifrah Salad, and Senior Advisor to the President, Abdul Mohamed Makaran.

Other AMISOM officials present at the meeting were the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Simon Mulongo; Deputy Force Commanders, Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai and Maj. Gen. Maurice Gateretse; the Special Advisor to the AU Special Representative for Somalia on the Transition, Lt. Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh, and the Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo.

GAROWE ONLINE