Saturday May 6, 2023
Bankole Adeoye, African Union commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, inspects AMISOM Soldiers on February 27, 2022. AMISOm
MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing support for Somali Security Forces (SSF) to strengthen security, stabilization, and development efforts.
ATMIS Acting Force Commander Marius Ngendabanka said they are mandated to reduce the threat posed by al-Shabab, the terrorist group, support the capacity-building of an integrated SSF and conduct a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somalia.
"Since the reconfiguration in April last year, ATMIS together with the SSF continues to plan, coordinate, and conduct joint targeted operations across the sectors to deny terrorists the freedom of movement and in many cases degrade al-Shabab," Ngendabanka said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Friday.
He emphasized ATMIS' commitment to delivering on its mandate and authorization from both the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council.
Ngendabanka said ATMIS will continue to support targeted joint operations led by Somali security forces until it eventually hands over security responsibilities to the SSF by the December 2024 deadline. He also emphasized that ATMIS continues to work closely with the SSF at various levels to build an enabling environment for security, stability, and peace.
The ATMIS acting force commander said the AU mission provided the SSF with air support, which included both attack and utility helicopters, to the joint operations in the southern and central regions.
"Our goal is to see a more secure, stable, and prosperous Somalia," Ngendabanka said, noting that ATMIS continues to maintain its presence in the sectors jointly holding priority population centers and securing key supply routes, including areas essential to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.