Mogadishu, 5 May 2024 – A high-level delegation from the African Union Commission led by the Head of Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), General Cheick Dembele, has reassured the Somali people that there will be no security vacuum, following the exit of the AU peacekeeping mission from Somalia at the end of this year.
The delegation stated that a Tripartite Committee, comprising the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), would ensure a smooth transfer of security responsibilities to Somali Security Forces.
“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,” said Gen. Dembele during a recent visit to the frontline Forward Operating Bases of Xawaadleey and Qoryooley in Middle and Lower Shabelle regions respectively.
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.
ATMIS is expected to exit Somalia by the end of December 2024, according to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2710 (2023). However, there are plans to establish a post-ATMIS force to help protect strategic population centres, UN facilities and key government installations.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, accompanied the delegation to Baidoa where they held discussions with the President of Southwest State,Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’.
“We discussed issues relating to the protection of civilians and performance of our troops as well as security arrangements and ongoing follow-up meetings on post-ATMIS in 2025,” said Ambassador Souef, commending the Ethiopian contingent’s role indegrading Al-Shabaab in the region.
Gen Dembele underscored the importance of understanding the situation on the ground and seeking the population’s views to help develop an effective action plan.
“For us to be able to come up with an action-oriented tool to address the situation on the ground that is tailored to reality, we need to come as close to the people and seek their views,” he noted.
The delegation is expected to submit a comprehensive assessment and planning report to the African Union Peace and Security Council outlining the framework for the post- ATMIS security arrangement.
“Peace and Security Council will meet to consider the report of our mission with strategic concept of operations to ensure a smooth takeover of the new mission devoid of disconnect between ATMIS and post-ATMIS security arrangement,” said Dembele.
