Somalia: Request for suspension of withdrawal from Atmis by the Somali government
The Somali government recently sent a request to Atmis (African Union Transition Mission) to suspend its ongoing withdrawal. Hussein Sheikh Ali, security adviser to the presidency, sent a letter to the United Nations ambassador, Ferit Hoxha, in which he requested a “technical pause” to allow Somali forces to consolidate their victory against the Shebab, the terrorist group active in the region.
The Somali government is particularly concerned about the safety of refugee populations near the African Union’s forward operating bases. He calls for “comprehensive planning” to ensure their protection, particularly as phase 2 of the Atmis withdrawal concerns very isolated bases.
Although Atmis began its withdrawal at the beginning of the year to make way for Somali forces, the government admits that the national army is not yet able to fully control the territory. The letter states that on August 26, several setbacks were suffered and Somali forces had to leave recently liberated towns. Despite this, Atmis proceeded to launch phase 2 of its withdrawal.
Atmis Commander Lieutenant Colonel Philippe Butoyu said during departure from the Biyo Adde base near Mogadishu that Somali security forces are demonstrating a growing capacity to secure the country. Phase 2 of the withdrawal sees the departure of 3,000 Atmis troops by the end of the year, while the remaining 14,000 are planned to leave Somalia by the end of 2024.
This request to suspend the withdrawal from Atmis highlights concerns about the ability of Somali forces to maintain security and effectively control the territory. There is still much work to be done to strengthen the operational capabilities of the national army and ensure the stability of the country. The African Union’s response to this request will be crucial for the future of Somalia’s security transition.