MOGADISHU– Somali Defence Minister has revealed that the Somali National Army forces have successfully taken over areas vacated by the African Transition Mission in Somalia.
Speaking during an event to conclude phase one of ATMIS drawdown which took in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur said that the SNA has fully occupied areas abandoned by ATMIS troops.
The Minister exuded confidence that the SNA is capable of maintaining the security and stability of the areas left by the peacekeepers and will continue to bolster the war against Al-Shabaab.
The African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) had this week announced that it has winded up its first phase of troops withdrawal with the handover of over seven Forward Operating Bases in Hirshabelle, Jubbaland, South West States and in the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu.
The ATMIS commanders successfully handed over the bases to the Somali National Army commandants.
Over 2000 troops vacated their bases in a transition exercise aimed at transferring security responsibilities to the Somali government security forces.
Among those in attendance of the event include UN’s Special Representative Catriona Laing and SRCC & Head of ATMIS souefmo Elamine.