Kenyan President William Ruto and his Djibouti counterpart dictator Ismail Omar Guelle discussed the importance of remaining African Union forces in Somalia with the country’s security capacity, according to Somali officials told Somali Times.
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The two presidents who held a press conference in Djibouti appeared to be against the current of ATMIS forces, as it cannot be confirmed that Somalia has the ability to effectively fight Al-Shabab.
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The African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is expected to reduce 2,000 soldiers by June 30, so that security responsibility is transferred to the security forces of the Somali government. But Kenyan Presidents Ruto and dictator Ismail Omar Guelle want African Union troops to remain in Somalia until 2026.
Ruto and Guelle insisted on the need to preserve what they called the achievements of African Union troops.
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“As the countries that have contributed troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), we have agreed that the next IGAD summit will discuss the transition plan for Somalia while maintaining the achievements of African Union troops.”
They added that the remaining AU forces should ensure that the Somali security forces take control of the areas that have been removed from the control of the Al-Shabab group.
Both the Federal Government of Somalia and ATMIS have confirmed their commitment to facilitate the smooth transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali Armed Forces by 2026.
Last Friday, the Ministry of Defense announced that 2000 ATMIS soldiers will be reduced by the end of June, in order to implement Security Council Resolution 2670.