ATMIS STARTS SECOND PHASE OF TROOP REDUCTION
The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Sunday began the second phase of the reduction of troops in Somalia, by handing over to the Somali National Army (SNA) the Bio Adale base in Hirshabelle State.
The Biyo Adale station in the Middle Shabelle region, which is under the responsibility of the ATMIS forces in Burundi (BNDF) is strategic, as it is the defense opening of the city of Jowhar in the Hirshabelle administrative center.
Officials from the ATMIS mission, the Federal Government of Somalia (DFS) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) were present at the handover ceremony.
The Commander of Biyo Adale ATMIS, Lt. Col. Philippe Butoyi who spoke at the event said that the transfer of security responsibility is proof of Somalia's leadership in rebuilding the country, protecting the people, and ensuring security and stability.
"We are witnessing the successes achieved in the opening of the war in which the security forces of Somalia have shown their increasing ability to secure the security of the country. We have seen the army attack, capture and control many areas," said Lieutenant Colonel Butoyi.
He added, "That the Somali security forces who are professionally trained and well equipped are the ones who will change the fight against terrorism in Somalia."
The Commander of the Somali National Army at Biyo Adale Station, Three Star Ahmed Ali Taakow, signed the transfer papers of the station, which is evidence of the transfer of security responsibility, and was attended by a representative from ATMIS Operation Headquarters, Lt. Col. Edouard Nzohabonayo and, UNSOS Head of Transition Planning Unit, Patrick Duah, and Deputy Commander of the CXDS Operations Department, Major Muhuddin Ahmed.
The representative of CXDS, Major Mukhudin Ahmed, thanked the ATMIS troops in Burundi for their good security in Hirshabelle state.
"You sacrificed your lives and shed blood to defend our land from the enemy. You are the reason why we are now stronger, and today we are taking over the security responsibility of Biyo Adale," said Captain Ahmed.
During the handover, UNSOS, which supports ATMIS in terms of logistics, also handed over to the Somali National Army equipment belonging to the United Nations, such as motors, water purification plants, solar panels, wells, refrigerators, freezers, and water storage tanks and other equipment.
"As part of the handover process, UNSOS has donated equipment from the United Nations to the XDS forces who are taking over the ATMIS base. UNSOS has also trained SNA officers to enable them to operate and maintain this equipment,” said UNSOS Transition Planning Unit Head, Patrick Duah.
The reduction of ATMIS forces comes after the United Nations Security Council Resolutions: 2628 (2022), 2670 (2022), and 2687 (2023), instructing ATMIS to withdraw two thousand soldiers from Somalia by June 2023 and another three thousand by the end of September 2023.
In the first successful phase of reduction of ATMIS forces, 2000 soldiers were withdrawn from the country and transferred to six bases in June 2023
