NEW YORK (Halbeeg News) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has proposed that newly formed African Transition Mission In Somalia (Atmis) to focus on helping Somali security forces take security responsibilities in Somalia.
In a letter, Guterres said he preferred a plan to gradually reduce ATMIS in four phases, “to enable and support Somali security forces to take primary responsibility for security in Somalia by the end of 2023” with a total military departure in 2024.
The UN chief added that under the plan, ATMIS’s first reduction of 2,000 troops would not occur until after December 2022, with more decreases in each phase.
“It is important that existing uniformed troop levels are maintained until the end of phase one to ensure that hard-won gains are preserved and to allow for a reconfiguration of the mission without compromising the current security provision,“ Guterres explained in his letter.
Later this month, Atmis is expected to be replaced African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) which has been Somalia fight Al-Shabaab since 2007.
Amisom helped the government forces liberate towns and villages including the capital Mogadishu following fierce fighting with Al-Shabaab fighters.
Al-Shabaab lost control of Mogadishu after days long fighting with Somali forces backed by Amisom troops in Benadir region.
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