Somalia plans security take over as AU forces withdraw

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The government of Somalia is coming up with a security strategy as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops leave the country, in compliance with the exit plan which was devised by Troops Contributing Countries.

Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, Djibouti and Uganda contributed 22,000 soldiers for peacekeeping in the Horn of Africa nation. However, at least 5000 have left under the Somali Transition Plan (STP) with an additional 4,000 soldiers expected to leave by the end of June.

In the long run, all soldiers serving in the mission are expected to leave by December 2024. Upon their exit, STP guidelines state, security responsibilities will be handed over to the Somali National Army (SNA) which has undergone rigorous training.

On Tuesday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a strategy meeting with the National Security Council where elaborate plans were discussed. President Hassan Sheikh is confident that local forces will successfully take over the leadership.

"Under the leadership of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the National Security Council met to discuss the security strategy after ATMIS. He asked security agencies to implement a national strategy to handle weapons and ammunition."

Training and equipping Somali security forces has been a priority of multinational military forces in the country. The aim, the United Nations say, is to strengthen local troops ahead of the much-anticipated exit of all ATMIS troops from the country.

Somalia has put elaborate security measures in the fight against Al-Shabaab, a group which is seeking to dethrone the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia. In recent weeks, the group has lost several strategic towns across the country.

GAROWE ONLINE