MOGADISHU (SD) -The government of Uganda has announced that their troops will stay put in Somalia despite the decision of ending the African Union Mission in Somalia by 2022.

The AMISOM duties were prearranged to conclude on December 21st, 2020, but it was agreed to extend the mission until March 15,2022.

There are more than 6,000 Ugandan soldiers out of 20,000 AMISOM troops operating in Somalia, and playing vital roles in fighting Al-Shabaab and liberating strategic cities such as Kisamyo.

The Ugandan military spokesman, Brig Felix Kulayigye, reported that the troops will proceed to be part of the new mission in Somalia (ATMIS). He confirmed that the number of soldiers will be reduced after the end of AMISOM.

The African Union and the Somalia Federal Government have approved the launch of the new ATMIS operation by April 2023. Currently, the Security council is expected to permit the new mission in the following months.