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The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has announced the recommencement of the second phase of troop withdrawal from Somalia in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2710 (2023). Initially paused upon the Federal Government of Somalia’s request, the withdrawal involves 3,000 troops and the transfer of control for eight Forward Operating Bases by December 2023.

Top officials of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) have jointly announced the recommencement of the second phase of ATMIS troop withdrawal from Somalia in December.

The revelations are contained in a statement released on Friday by ATMIS.

As directed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2710 (2023), ATMIS will withdraw 3,000 troops from Somalia and transfer control of eight (8) Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) by the end of December 2023.

This process originally intended to conclude by the end of September 2023, was halted following a request by the Federal Government for a technical pause.

In 2007, Uganda was the first country to deploy boots on the ground in Somalia. Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti are the other troop-contributing countries under ATMIS. However, from June 15, 2023, the entity started reducing the number of soldiers in Somalia by 2,000.

The move is in line with the agreed Concept of Operations (CONOPs) and UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670.

“Yesterday after having a couple of meetings at the tripartite technical level, we conclude that we must consider the African Union communique and the UN Security Council resolution for the implementation of phase two of the drawdown. The deadline was 31 of December this year so after consultations and discussion all measures have been taken and the drawdown will take place by December 31, [2023],” African Union Special Representative for Somalia and Head of ATMIS Amb. Mohamed EL-Amine Souef said.

UNOS head Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira said: “I just want to assure you that we are ready to continue supporting the transition, the drawdown so that we fulfill the mandate as it was given to use on the UN Security Council resolution and together with that to continue supporting logistically with operations because we know that even as there is a drawdown there are also operations going on”.

According to Somalia National Security Advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali, the security transition process is alive, and that the Somalia government is committed to seeing it through. He said the international community is also committed to seeing it through and ensuring the government takes over the security responsibilities of the country by December 2024.