The African Union Mission in Somalia (Atmis) said it has handed over nine military bases to the Somali government, marking the completion of the second phase of the troop withdrawal from the country..
Seven of the nine military bases were handed over Monday at a ceremony held in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Atmis said in a statement issued Monday evening, “The drawdown of 3,000 troops and handover of the seven military bases which conclude Bio Cadale, Raga Ceel, Parliament, State House, Qorillow, Burahache, and Kismayo Old Airport ENDF mark a watershed moment in the ongoing Somalia security transition process,” Atmis said.
According to Atmis, two other military bases that were closed are Sarille and Old Airport KDF, Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, director of conflict management within the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission who spoke at the event in Mogadishu, said the drawdown marked a significant milestone in Somalia’s positive trajectory.
Bah said the African Union is fully committed to completing the security transition on time, in particular, beginning preparations for the Phase 3 drawdown of 4,000 Atmis troops by June 30.
