NAIROBI (SD) -The African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has announced that they withdrew 5,000 of their soldiers from Somalia and handed over 13 Military Bases to the Somali Security Forces, marking the end of the first and second phases of the ATMIS drawdown and Transition.

Top commanders of the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), who convened a four-day meeting last Thursday, revealed a strategic plan to defeat Al-Shabaab and their long-term strategy to reduce the troops by 4,000 soldiers in June.

The Special Representative of the African Union to Somalia and Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Souef Mohamed El-Amine, stated that the third phase of the ATMIS troop reduction will be successful, urging ATMIS commanders to work closely with the Somali Security Forces (SSF) to maintain security during the transition period.

The ATMIS commanders’ summit is held every three months to plan the security priorities of the mission and implement the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to fulfill the objectives of the mission.