MOGADISHU, Somalia [SMN] – ATMIS today concluded the first phase of troop withdrawal with the handover of Mogadishu’s Aljazeera One Training Forward Operating Base (FOB) and Jubaland State’s Gherille FOB to the Somali Security Forces (SSF).
The former, manned by UPDF, was handed over to the SSF by ATMIS Sector One Commander, Brig. Gen. Peter Omola, while the latter was handed over to the Jubaland Security Force by KDF Gherille FOB Commander, Maj. Shitanda Terence Soita.
This brings the total number of FOBs handed over to SSF to six, while the Marka Ayub facility was closed. ATMIS is expected to withdraw 2000 troops by the end of June in line with UN Security Council resolutions 2628 and 2670.
ATMIS is withdrawing 2,000 troops by the end of June 2023 in compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 2628(22) and 2670(22) which require ATMIS to gradually transfer security responsibilities to the Somali security forces.
The AU mission’s Acting Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Marius Ngendabanka emphasized that the drawdown of 2000 ATMIS soldiers will not impact on security for key government installations and major population centres if the SSF takes over.
