MOGADISHU, Kenya, Mar 23- The transition from the current African Mission in Somalia (Amisom) peace enforcement mission into the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has begun, with stakeholders agreeing to set up joint technical teams to work on implementing the Concept of Operations.
The new African Union peace mission in Somalia will be replacing AMISOM effective April 1.
The new mission is expected to last through to 2024 when Somali forces are expected to pick up the elephant task of securing Somalia, as the international community continues with the drawdown of troops in the horn of Africa nation.
How is this going to happen?
As a new formation gets into position inside Somalia, all key stakeholders agree that the key priority even for AMISOM before it was the threat of terror, in which the country still hosts a significant number of active cells, coordinated by the AL Shabaab outfit.
“From a threat assessment, it is observed that Al-Shabaab remains the main security threat in Somalia. Its strong sanctuaries remain present in Jubaland, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, and Galmudug. The use of Improvised Explosive Devices remains Al-Shabaab’s weapon of choice to carry out large-scale atrocities,” Lt. Gen. Diomede Ndegeya, Force Commander, AMISOM told Shahidi News.
In order to keep the momentum of repulsing the threat and enforcing the peace, ATMIS is expected to work under a Concept of Operations (CONOPS 2022-2024) document that will, together with the Somali Transition Plan (STP), give direction to the operations of the new mission.
“As Somalia prepares to say goodbye to AMISOM after ten years in the next few days, many questions have arisen as to what the new formation will be, how will it look like, and what will be its mandate and whether or not it will be able to undertake its mandate within the next two years,” Hassan Khannenje, Director Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies said.
He added that “As Somalia prepares to say goodbye to AMISOM after ten years in the next few days, many questions have arisen as to what the new formation will be, how will it look like, and what will be its mandate and whether or not it will be able to undertake its mandate within the next two years.”
Somalia federal government officials are calling for more Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) activities under ATMIS so that local communities can feel the positive impact of the peacekeepers’ involvement in their day-to-day lives.
“The FGS is committed more than ever to ensuring its security forces are capacitated and equipped to the standard required for the achievements of the implementation of the CONOPS and to meet the Somalia Transition Plan benchmarks,” Somalia Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohammed said.
Somalia has failed several times to constitute a new government with several postponements of the parliamentary elections that have had a ripple effect on the presidential one.
” Somalia needs to complete its election agenda, so long as it remains suspended there is very little viability, of the objectives of ATMIS actually being achieved. It’s going to require that after the election the Somali government has a clear agenda and are united in what they seek to achieve. The tension we have seen in the past has limited the ability of AMISOM and the federal government to work together in ways that can be able to build capacity but also build faith and confidence of citizens in their own government,” Director Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies said.
The SNA Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Odowa Yusuf Rage, has stressed the need for the international partners to channel logistical support to not only the joint operations between SNA and ATMIS but also operations independently carried out by the SNA.
“In order for the mission to achieve its specific tasks within the timelines spelled out in the CONOPS and transition phases, the support of the international community and partners is vital. We request for more logistical support for the Somali National Army for its independent military operations, aside from the joint operations, that have shown effectiveness to degrade the enemy,” said General Odowa during the closing ceremony of the conference.
The government has come on board after engagements, the AU with the new outfit is expected to borrow its mandate from the Somali transitional plan.
“There is an increasing sense in Somalia and wish for the Somalis themselves to take a leading role especially in stabilizing their country. With ATMIS it gives the federal government a lot more say with regard to what should be done and how. This is a mission that will help the military, police, and judiciary; thus, its mandate will be expanded however the nature of the functions are largely going to be determined by the priorities of the federal government of Somalia,” Khannenje said.
Stakeholders have agreed to the formation of joint technical teams made up of representatives from ATMIS, Somali Security Forces, and UNSOS within two months to agree on the implementation of the proposed CONOPS.
The Somali Defence ministry has acknowledged the achievements of AMISOM since it started operating in Somalia in 2007 and now says that it should be consolidated under ATMIS through further capacitation of the Somali security forces in preparation for their takeover of Somalia’s security responsibilities from ATMIS in 2024.
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