BAIDOA, Somalia – The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Ambassador Mohammed El-Amine Souef, on a joint visit to Baidoa in the South West State, said the joint technical assessment for the first phase of ATMIS drawdown and planning for the second phase are progressing steadily.
Travelling with the Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Assistant Secretary General, Dr Aisa Kacyira, and members of the Joint Technical Team led by the Ag. Head of the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the African Union Commission (AUC), Zinurine Alghali, Ambassador Souef said both the technical assessment and planning for the second phase of the drawdown have had to run concurrently due to the tight deadlines imposed, but ATMIS remains committed to meeting them.
In the current mandate of ATMIS, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2687, requests the African Union and the Government of Somalia in consultation with the United Nations and international partners to conduct a joint technical assessment by 31st August 2023 to evaluate Phase One drawdown of 2000 troops and identify lessons, as well as the implications of the revised National Security Architecture and force generation, to inform planning for the remaining phases of ATMIS drawdown.
The Resolution also requests ATMIS to draw down 3000 uniformed personnel by 30 September 2023 to reduce military personnel from 17,626 to 14,626 by 30 September this year.
While reaffirming the African Union’s commitment to ensuring Somalia takes over full security responsibility, the acting Head of the AU Peace Support Operations Division, Mr. Zinurine Alghali, urged all stakeholders to ensure that the hard-won gains made are not lost.
“We want to commend the efforts of ATMIS in implementing the mandate and convey greetings and a message of support from the Peace and Security Council and the AU Commission Chairperson, H.E. Musa Faki Mahamat. The African Union is committed to ensuring that the Federal Government of Somalia takes take over full responsibility for their country’s security to ensure stability, development, and prosperity for the people of Somalia,” said Mr. Alghali.
The Head of UNSOS, Dr. Kacyira, affirmed the commitment of the United Nations to ensuring a smooth transition and lauded all stakeholders for the success of the first phase of the ATMIS troop drawdown.
“I want to say that the first phase of the drawdown that took place in June was successful and provided us with good lessons based on which we will be able to provide even better support to the second phase,” said Dr. Kacyira.
“So far the Tripartite technical committee (FGS, ATMIS, and UNSOS) planning the second phase of the drawdown are making good progress,” said the ATMIS Deputy Force Commander in charge of Logistics and Support, Maj. Gen. Muteti, who also leads the ATMIS technical evaluation committee. He disclosed that “preparations are at an advanced stage to draw 3000 ATMIS troops”.
The technical team from the African Union headquarters has since departed Somalia for Addis Ababa and will submit their report to the UN Security Council by 15 September 2023.
ATMIS
