AU troops to protect critical infrastructure in Mogadishu amid exit from Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) will continue protecting critical infrastructure in Somalia amid ongoing exit from the country, a top official has said, following the withdrawal from the presidential palace and parliament.

Over the weekend, the ATMIS contingent left the presidential palace and parliament areas which they have been protecting for a while, subsequently, handing over security responsibilities to the Somali National Army (SNA) which is set to take over most parts of the country.

Abdulqadir Mohamed Nur, the country's minister for defense, said ATMIS will continue securing the Mogadishu port and the Aden Adde airport, which are critical entry infrastructure to Somalia and whose security is paramount based on revenue collected.

According to Nur, the African Union troops will leave the infrastructures on the last day of withdrawal from the country. ATMIS anticipates to complete withdrawal from the country by December 2024.

“The airport and the port of Mogadishu are the last places where the ATMIS troops are leaving. The security of the whole country is being taken over by our troops which means that the government of Somalia is fully prepared to assume security responsibilities in all parts of Somalia,” the minister said.

Further, he noted, the Somali National Army will be in charge of most parts of the country by December 2024 when the last contingent of ATMIS leaves the country. It is expected that by December 31st this year, at least 3000 more soldiers will have left the country.

For the last 16 years, Somalia has been depending on ATMIS and US Africa Command for security but the recent lifting of the arms embargo gives the Horn of Africa nation a chance to build its own strong Army to tackle Al-Shabaab militants who control most parts of the country.

GAROWE ONLINE