The second phase of withdrawal of African Union troops in Somalia has begun

  The African Union has announced that the second phase of the withdrawal of the Union's troops from Somalia has begun. The statement of the African Union has explained that the departure follows the schedule of handing over security operations to the country's authorities, which is fighting al-Qaida's allies in the East African region, namely the al-Shabab militant group based in Somalia. Last year, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a new African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, to assist Somalis until their forces take full responsibility for the country's security by the end of 2024. A senior official The top officials of the African Union have told the news circles that the second phase of removing 3,000 ATMIS soldiers from Somalia has begun and is expected to be completed by the end of this month of September.

The force formerly known as AMISOM withdrew its 2,000 peacekeeping troops from Somalia earlier this year. Somalia's al-Shabab militia Efforts to build capacity to enable Somalia's security forces to take full responsibility for their country's security when ATMIS fully withdraws from Somalia in December 2024 are ongoing. Recently, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia said the aim of the ongoing military operations in the country is to eradicate and destroy the al-Shabaab terrorist group in the next five months. Somalia has been in a war and struggle against the al-Shabab terrorist group, which was founded in 2004, and which has declared its connection with the al-Qaeda network.