Somalia

ATMIS officially transfers military base to Somalia National Forces

Brig. Gen. Anthony Lukwago Mbuusi, ATMIS Uganda Contingent Commander, officially transfers control of the Bariire Forward Operating Base (FOB) in South West State to Maj. Muhudin Ahmed of SNA in June 2024 (Photo: ATMIS)

By Terry Muriuki | Monday, July 1, 2024

Presiding over the handover of the base, the Deputy Representative of the African Union Commission (AUC) for Somalia, Siyuvile Bam, assured continued support for the Somali-led peace and security efforts despite the transition.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has officially transferred the Abdall Birolle Forward Operating Base (FOB), a key military base, to the Somali National Forces (SMF).

This is the fourth handover in the Phase Three drawdown, as the AU mission steps up the withdrawal of its troops from the country.

Presiding over the handover of the base, the Deputy Representative of the African Union Commission (AUC) for Somalia, Siyuvile Bam, assured continued support for the Somali-led peace and security efforts despite the transition.

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"Somalia once provided sanctuary to freedom fighters from other African countries during their struggles for independence. It is our duty to reciprocate the support and sacrifices made by the Somali people for our own countries' freedom," said Siyuvile.

Brig Seif Salim Rashid of ATMIS also highlighted that the successful campaign against Al-Shabaab in Jubaland was due to cooperation between ATMIS, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and the Ethiopian Defence Forces (EDF).

"Operationally, we have achieved significant successes, greatly impacting the security situation in Kismayo. This FOB serves as a buffer zone for Kismayo airport and so to our colleagues taking over, we wish you all the best. We will remain available for consultations and support as needed," said Brig Rashid.

Military officers of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Somali National Army (SNA) inspect a water treatment plant handed over to SNA at the Horseed Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Hirshabelle State, south-central Somalia, on 20 June 2024. Photo / Fardosa Hussein

The UN Support Office in Somalia, which was among the key personnel in the handover events, gifted UN-owned equipment, including generators, water storage tanks, and water treatment plants, to the Somalia National Armed Forces (SNAF) to ensure the base remains operational.

FOB has been a strategic buffer for the Kismayo International Airport, securing key supply routes supplying Buula Xaaji and Kismayo City since 2016. The handover follows the United Nations Security Council's 2024 resolution, mandating the withdrawal of 2,000 ATMIS troops by June 30 and 2,000 by September 30, 2024.

In the Phase One drawdown, 18,586 troops were withdrawn on December 31, 2022, while in the Phase Two drawdown, 2,000 troops were withdrawn in September 2023 and June 2024.

The third phase of the Atmis drawdown aligns with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2628 (2022), 2670 (2022), and 2710 (2023), which mandate the withdrawal of 4,000 troops by the end of June.

"The AUPSC notes that the exit of Atmis needs to be carefully harmonised with the follow-on mission that replaces it, including the harmonisation of Troop Contribution Countries (TCCs), to ensure that there is no security gap between December 31 and January 1, 2025," the AUPSC said in a communiqué in June 2024.

The troop-contributing countries include Kenya (having an operational base in Dhobley, covering the Lower Shabelle, Middle Juba, and Gedo regions), Ethiopia (covering the Bay, Bakool, and Gedo regions), Burundi (covering the Shabelle region), Djibouti (covering the Hiiraan and Galgaduud regions), and Uganda (covering the Benadir region, which covers parts of the capital city, Mogadishu, and lower Shabelle regions), who have been deployed throughout South Central Somalia.