AU mission trains new military officers to help stabilize Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Tuesday began induction training for its 12 military officers who recently joined the mission to help stabilize the country.

The ATMIS said the training, which is taking place in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, will bring the military officers up to speed on ATMIS' mandate and operations in the country.

"They will be taken through various topics including military operations, code of conduct, international humanitarian law, and child protection," the AU mission said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

The ATMIS has intensified training after the Somali government recently requested a three-month technical pause in the final phase of the drawdown of the ATMIS troops while it engages in a major military effort against the al-Shabab terrorist group.

According to Somalia's security plans, the ATMIS will be drawing down its troops over the next 14 months before completely departing by the end of 2024, with the Somali security forces assuming prime responsibility in this area.

The ATMIS was expected to scale down its troop numbers in September by a further 3,000 personnel after successfully withdrawing 2,000 troops and handing over six military bases in June.

According to the UN, a high-level conference on Somalia's post-2024 security architecture and its needs is scheduled to be held in New York, the United States, in December.