New AU mission to enter Somalia after ATMIS withdrawal

A new AU-led multinational mission will begin its operations in Somalia starting January next year, following the withdrawal of the African Union Transition Mission later this year.

Plans for its deployment have begun even as details of who the multinational mission will consist of, remain scanty.

Speaking to Voice of America Thursday, Somalia National Security Advisor Hussein Sheikh-Ali said the African Union and the United Nations have already agreed to have the "lean" multinational forces of an estimated 3000 to 8000 soldiers who will work closely with an equal number of Somali forces before they gradually take over from them within a year or so.

"The mandate of the new forces will be to protect key infrastructure within Somalia, and areas where Somali security forces would use as logistical hubs and also where international agencies and foreign embassies are based," VOA quoted him.

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The same was confirmed by Kamal Gutale, Senior Security Advisor to Somalia's Prime Minister who attended a meeting to discuss the ongoing ATMIS withdrawal and plan for the new multinational force on Wednesday.

"We stand at a crossroads in Somalia's quest for security and stability. We reviewed progress and plans for post-ATMIS Somalia, continued commitment shown to defeat terrorism and build a capable Somali security sector," he said after the meeting attended by core security partners in Addis Ababa.

The partners included troops and police-contributing countries of Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, Somali government reps, UN reps, EU, USA, UK, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, and leaders of the AU Political Affairs, Peace and Security department.

"The United States is committed to a sustainable transition to full Somali security ownership and supporting Somalia's fight against Al Shabaab," the US Bureau for African Affairs said on X on Wednesday.

The deployment of the new mission seeks to fill the vacuum that will emerge following the withdrawal of ATMIS troops, Africa's longest-serving peace-keeping mission.

The vacuum is felt by the number of attacks that have occurred since the withdrawals began last year, raising questions over the Somali National Army's readiness to take over the security of the country.

Last year, Somalia requested a technical halt of 3,000 of the second phase of the ATMIS withdrawal to give room for its soldiers to recuperate and re-strategise to win the onslaught against the al Shabaab terror group that began a year ago.

President Hassan Mohamud felt that he needed more time to deal with the difficult task of putting pressure on al Shabaab and at the same time generate forces that sustain the momentum that according to observers had attained more gains than ever made the last five years.

The phased withdrawal of the ATMIS forces is coming to an end this year when remnant troops will exit the country creating room for Somali forces to take charge of its security.

Phase 3 drawdown had been scheduled for June this year, and final exit by December 2024.

Last year, countries in the region promised to unite in sustaining the war against al Shabaab after ATMIS exit and are making individual plans on how to counter the militia's inflow into their territories as the onslaught continues but a common strategy is yet to be announced.

"I think countries in the region are looking for ways to help but in terms of how that is going to look like is yet to be defined," said US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin during his visit to Nairobi last year.

Along with military operations, the new mission is expected to offer other stability operations that are of benefit to the people.