Friday June 9, 2023
FILE PHOTO
MOGADISHU, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Somali government said Friday that 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.
The Ministry of Defence lauded the sacrifices made by ATMIS over the past years in pursuit of peace in Somalia and in the region, noting that their sacrifices made to secure Somalia will forever be remembered.
"The Somalia National Armed Forces and the Somalia Security Forces are prepared as Somalia moves towards the next chapter of security ownership across the country," the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The government said through its collaboration with bilateral partners, it has trained security forces in the past years that will take over security responsibilities of 2,000 ATMIS forces. The handover will be completed by the end of June in line with the UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670.
The government said it has also appointed a technical team with ATMIS and the UN Support Office in Somalia that will oversee the implementation of the ATMIS drawback of 2,000 troops.
The ministry said the smooth transfer of security responsibilities from ATMIS to Somalia will mark a turning towards the country's continued progress and self-reliance.
The AU peace mission is expected to fully exit Somalia by Dec. 31, 2024.