The African Union envoy to Somalia has announced that the UN mission in Somalia, AMISOM, has began its much awaited troop pullout.
Francisco Madeira made the announcement as the country plans to carry out a large scale military offensive against Al-Shabaab. A resurgent Al-Shabaab has been staging lethal attacks in the Horn of Africa nation in the recent past.
Our reporter, Abdulaziz Billow reports on the situation from Mogadishu.
On the outskirts of Mogadishu hundreds of heavily armed African union troops on the march to flush out militants from their strongholds in lower Shabelle region.
Al-Shabaab remains active in this rich agricultural region that is long regarded for years as the epicenter of the ongoing conflict in the country.
With the onset of the rainy season, Ugandan soldiers under AMISOM are planning to extend their grip by taking the fight right to the militant doorsteps.
“We must send a clear message to Al-Shabaab wherever they are so we cannot allow them to back and sneak into Afgooye, sneak into Bal’ad, Elasha Biyaha, Lafoole, and begin to cause havoc. So, our operations today were intended to send a clear message to Al-Shabaab that wherever they are, we would be there.” Uganda’s Contingent spokesman, Major Robert Kamara said.
It’s the second biggest military buildup being witnessed in the East African nation. Thousands of Ethiopian troops recently crossed the border into Somalia to help boost AMISOM activities, just days after Somalia’s president declared a state of war.
Meanwhile in Mogadishu -African Union made its biggest announcement in years, stating that its 22,000 strong mission has began a drawdown of troops from the country.
“AMISOM has began its drawdown from Somalia – and will have its troops numbers reduced by 1000 by 31st December 2017. This reduction will be implemented in all sectors in accordance to the UN resolution of the Security council 2372 of 30th of August”. Madeira said.
Mogadishu is yet to comment following this recent announcement by the African Union. President Farmajo hopes to weaken Al-Shabaab within two years but experts now warn against a hasty pullout by AMISOM, saying that it risks undermining any recent security gains made on the ground.
Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Kenya and Djibouti form bulk of the multinational peacekeeping force first deploy to the country in 2007 to end an armed insurgency that’s now entered its tenth year. It has extended Mogadishu’s control across the country but leaves behind a militant group now ranked the deadliest in Africa.
“Al-Shabaab is the worst enemy in Somalia and the deadliest enemy in mankind. So when the Somali government cannot come to the point to defend their authority and show the Somali society and other countries that are involved in Somalia they are going to do something about it, that has given a huge space to Al-Shabaab”, security and counterterrorism expert, Abdisalam Yusuf Guled said.
Mogadishu recently acknowledged that its forces cannot do it alone. At the moment the new military base run by Turkey remains its main sources of hope. But analysts suggest that it will require Somalia several years to produce a competent army enough to secure the country’s borders and putting an end the threats posed by terrorists groups.
