Mogadishu (AX) — On a sunny Wednesday, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) passed the baton of the Kuday Forward Operating Base (FOB) to Somali forces. It’s a significant leap in the third phase of ATMIS’s troop drawdown, highlighting Somalia’s budding prowess in managing its security landscape all by itself.
Since 2015, this base, which sits snugly near the strategic port town of Kismayo, has been helmed by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) under ATMIS’s wing. As an essential defensive anchor, it has shielded the port and its surrounding locales from militant threats. With ATMIS planning a final farewell to Somalia by the end of 2024, this transfer marks Somalia’s increased muscle in security affairs, though hurdles still lie ahead.
“This handover reflects Somalia’s readiness and resolve to grasp full reigns of its security, bolstered by ATMIS’s ongoing support,” remarked Col. Suleiman Ibrahim, the chief engineer of ATMIS. He lauded the KDF for stabilizing the area and encouraged Somali forces to build upon the groundwork laid by their predecessors.
In a symbolic gesture, the handover included gifting UN-owned gear like generators and solar panels to Somali soldiers.
Back in 2015, the liberation of Kuday from Al-Shabaab was a feather in the cap for the Somali forces, thanks to ATMIS’s backing. Kuday has since played a vital role in soothing southern Somalia’s turbulence and catapulting Kismayo’s economy, a crucial anchor amid Somalia’s ports. Nonetheless, Al-Shabaab lingers as a formidable adversary, spreading chaos across the nation.
While this transfer is indeed a promising move, the Somali Security Forces (SSF) grapple with monumental challenges as they get set to shoulder full security duties nationwide. So-far sluggish growth in SSF’s force strength and absence of critical assets, like aerial support for remote districts, hinder operations. Experts are waving red flags, cautioning that recent progress could waver if these hang-ups aren’t trimmed promptly.
Brigadier Rashid Seif, who commands ATMIS’s Sector Two, steered the handover proceedings, emphasizing its weight for both ATMIS and the Somali authorities. “We’ve invested much elbow grease and brainstorming into this transition. We’re optimistic Somali forces will safeguard this vital region,” he voiced.
Officers from the Somali National Army were spotted at the handover ceremony of the Kuday Forward Operating Base, where the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) signed off control to Somali forces, underscoring a pivotal moment in Somalia’s security voyage.
Maj. Hud Tohwari, soon-to-be FOB honcho, radiated hope about the base’s ongoing role in shielding the realm. “We’ll carry on collaborating with allied forces to guarantee safety and calm in Lower Juba,” declared Maj. Tohwari as he signed the official handover documents, joined by ATMIS and the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).
ATMIS, birthed from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in the yesteryear of 2022, has already bid adieu to 2,000 troops in this third drawdown phase, with other bases like Barire, El Eglow, and Jowhar passed on earlier.
Looking ahead, Somalia’s security net will be held up by a fresh endeavor—the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM)—set to kick off in January 2025. Taking over ATMIS’s mantle, yet with a leaner roster and resources, AUSSOM’s triumph will hinge chiefly on global support, particularly in fixing gaps within Somalia’s military arsenal.
Funds will be essential for AUSSOM’s strength. ATMIS has battled a money drought, staring down a $150 million chasm since April 2022. Global sponsors are in deep dialogue about new funding avenues to make sure the successor mission is flush. The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), which has been the logistician behind ATMIS, is expected to retain a significant role.
Despite security advancements, Al-Shabaab continues to loom large as a dire menace. The militant faction consistently hits military and civilian targets, jeopardizing regional calm. Maj. Sakariye Mohamed Omar from the Somali National Army highlighted collaborative efforts required to tackle the group. “Al-Shabaab doesn’t only threaten Somalia. It’s a peril to Kenya, Ethiopia, and the region at large. We need to join forces to vanquish this common foe,” he asserted during the kudos-fest handover.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
