Somalia: We are ready to take over from withdrawing AU soldiers

AMISOM troops patrolling the Zona-K camp for displaced people in Mogadishu’s Hodan district in June 2012. ©2012 Clar Ni Chonghaile

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Republic of Somalia is ready to take over security responsibilities from the AU Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] troops, officials have said, just a few weeks after the peacekeeping force started tactical withdrawal from the country.

Hussein Moalim, the National Security Advisor to the presidency, said the gradual withdrawal will be done in compliance with the Somali Transition Plan [STP], adding that the national troops are ready to take over from the foreign soldiers as the country seeks long-term stability.

Already, the second phase is scheduled for September this year, with 2000 soldiers leaving in the first phase of withdrawal. According to reports, the second phase will affect 1900 soldiers but initially, organizers had scheduled the exit of 3,000 soldiers within that period.

“The Somali Government is completely prepared to take over responsibility for our security from ATMIS. We intend to launch the second phase of the offensive operation against Al-Shabaab soon,” he said.

According to the schedule, the mission troops should be leaving the country by December 2024, but some troops in contributing countries like Kenya have expressed interest to continue staying within the country a little longer. The Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] have been pursuing Al-Shabaab in Somalia for the last decade.

The government of Somalia maintains that it is optimistic that by November this year, the United Nations Security Council will lift the arms embargo imposed on the country, a move which will allow the government of Somalia to import sophisticated weapons that are important in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has maintained his commitment to defeating Al-Shabaab militants, arguing that negotiations with the group will only be considered after they have been neutralized. Despite several gains in the fight against Al-Shabaab, the group still controls considerable areas within the country.

On Monday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to arrive in Dhusamareb, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug, where he is set to visit soldiers participating in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The first phase of operations against the group started in Galmadug and HirShabelle states.

GAROWE ONLINE