AMISOM to exit Somalia without success in the war on Al-Shabaab

Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu on Monday, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye said AMISOM will end its mission by March 31 of this year.

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AMISOM to exit Somalia without success in the war on Al-Shabaab

BELED-HAWO, Somalia – AMISOM – African Union Mission in Somalia turns its operation 15 years next month without much success in the fight against Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda’s branch in East Africa.

Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu on Monday, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye said AMISOM will end its mission by March 31 of this year.

Adeoye who paid a two-day working visit to Mogadishu held talks with the leaders of Somalia, including outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Sunday and discussed the exit of AMISOM forces.

“As the AMISOM mandate comes to an end in a few weeks, I paid tribute to their sacrifices and bravery alongside the SSF – Somali security forces. The visit symbolized the preparations for ATMIS,” he added.

ATMIS (AU Transitional Mission to Somalia) is tasked with consolidating gains made by AMISOM since 2007 and supporting Somali Transitional Plan [STP] endorsed by AU Peace and Security Council in 2018. The interim mission will start in April.

STP is a comprehensive guide developed by the Somali government and its partners to the transfer of security responsibility to Somali National Security Forces ahead of AMISOM’s anticipated exit in 2022.

“Much work remains to be done,” said Adeoye, adding that the file of ATMIS was sent to the UN security council in New York for approval next month before the new interim AU mission begins in Somalia soon.

The Al-Shabaab threat is much stronger than the time AMISOM arrived in the country as the terror group is carrying out high-profile attacks in Somalia and Kenya, which shows that the war on it is far from over.

Somalia, a long-chaotic nation in the Horn of Africa has no professionally trained and well-equipped Somali security force to take full charge of the fight against Al-Shabaab and the security responsibility.

KEYDMEDIA English 

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