MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) — African Union (AU) has pledged to support Somalia safeguard the hardly gained security amid the continental body plans to withdraw its troops from the Horn of African nation.
AU troops have been supporting Somali government to defeat al-Shabaab and other armed group in the country for more than a decade.
The troops helped the government recapture major towns including Mogadishu from al-Shabaab fighters.
The mission also trained thousands of Somali soldiers including police and military soldiers.
According to a statement by African Union Transition Mission in Somalia known as Atmis, a high-level delegation from the African Union Commission wrapped up their assessment visit to Somalia.
The delegation, led by the head of Peace Support Operations Division, Cheick Dembele, reassured the Somali people that there will be no security vacuum following the exit of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in December.
“We have to make it in a professional and organized manner so that there is no security vacuum and the gains earned during the 17 years of presence are not lost,” Dembele said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Sunday evening.
The statement said tripartite committee, comprising ATMIS, the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), and the Somali government, would ensure a smooth transfer of security responsibilities to Somali security forces,
The statement said the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to conduct a strategic assessment to help outline the modalities for a smooth transition of security responsibilities from ATMIS to Somali security forces and the establishment of a post-ATMIS African Union-led peace support operation.
The delegation is expected to submit a comprehensive assessment and planning report to the AU Peace and Security Council outlining the framework for the post-ATMIS security arrangement.
“The Peace and Security Council will meet to consider the report of our mission with a strategic concept of operations to ensure a smooth takeover of the new mission devoid of disconnect between ATMIS and post-ATMIS security arrangements,” Dembele said.
