Djibouti October 03, 2023 (SD) – The President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, has shown strong support for delaying the troop withdrawal of the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Somalia officially requested in September to extend the mandate of the ATMISOM troops stationed in Somalia, who have been actively involved in the country’s peacekeeping efforts over the decade. Stakeholders previously agreed that ATMIS troops withdraw from Somalia by December 2024.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh, in an interview with TRT World, stated that if ATMIS troops were to withdraw from Somalia without proper planning, it could lead to a security vacuum similar to what happened in Afghanistan. Previously, Djibouti and Kenya expressed concerns about the withdrawal of ATMIS from Somalia, indicating that troops from both countries would be deployed to secure Somalia’s borders.

Jubaland administration also expressed concern about the withdrawal of AMISOM forces, emphasizing that it should be a well-thought-out decision, suggesting that Al-Shabaab could exploit the security vacuum in the areas vacated by the ATMIS troops. F

ollowing the withdrawal of some of the ATMIS troops from certain areas, allowed Al Shabaab to retake those areas, resulting in significant unrest.