Tuesday June 20, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Tuesday handed over the Hajji Ali Forward Operation Base in the Middle Shabelle region to the Somali National Army forces as part of the drawdown of 2,000 African Union troops by the end of June 2023.
The commander of the Forward Operation Base of the Burundi National Defence Forces (BNDF) under the ATMIS mission, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Binyenimana, handed over the base to Major Bashir Abukar Ahmed, the commander of the Somali army at a ceremony attended by senior officials from ATMIS, the African Union, and the UN.
The Somali government said it is ready to take over security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as 2,000 troops will withdraw from the country by the end of June.
Additionally, the government has appointed a technical team with ATMIS and the UN Support Office in Somalia to oversee the implementation of the ATMIS drawback of 2,000 troops.
The peace mission from the African Union is anticipated to complete its full withdrawal from Somalia by December 31, 2024.