The Somali Govt and African Union reportedly agreed framework for AU Mission

The Somali Govt and African Union reportedly agreed framework for the AU mission in Somalia in the next 33 months after a meeting in Addis Ababa. According to documents being circulated, the new AU mission will transition from AMISOM to ATMIS (AU Transitional Mission to Somalia)…

ATMIS to retain gains made since 2007 but will support objectives and priorities of Somali Transition Plan. ATMIS will conduct with SNA joint, targeted operations to degrade and “other armed opposition groups.” ATMIS will consist of military, police and civilian components, ATMIS is to be headed by a special representative to be appointed by @AUC_MoussaFaki. New ATMIS force commander will come from the largest contributing country (now it rotates). Current troop, police contributing countries to form the basis of ATMIS with possibility for expansion.

TCC countries must agree their troops will come under full operational command of force commander. AU to support federal govt meet required conditions for lifting arms embargo. ATMIS sector boundaries to be aligned w @SNAForce sector boundaries w focus on operational objectives, Somali Govt sets new deadline for @SNAForce to provide internal security and assume security responsibilities from ATMIS by Dec 31, 2023, per docs. Transfer will be gradual, conditions-based, dependant on tangible progress made by Govt in generation of capacity to takeover FOBs.

Transition from AMISOM to ATMIS to take first 9 months; followed by conduct of joint decisive operations for another 9 months; and a third 9 months period for decisive simultaneous operations against Shabaab; and finally exit of ATMIS in the last 7 months of the 33 months mission, March 2022 marks 15 years since @amisomsomalia has been operational in Somalia. If/when this new 33-months-long mission ends, AMISOM/ATMIS will have been in Somalia for about 18 years.