Somalia army’s first major test in AU troop drawdown
A delegation from the African Union Military Staff Committee of the Peace and Security Council at the Atmis Mission Headquarters in Mogadishu, Somalia on 7 June 2023. PHOTO | ATMIS
As the African Union force in Somalia prepares to drawdown 2,000 troops at the end of June, the Somalia National Army faces its first major test when it assumes security responsibilities, with significant vast territory to defend as it takes up seven forward operating bases (FOBs) that the departing foreign forces will handover this month, starting June 15.
The seven FOBs are located in territory currently defended by Uganda, Burundi and Kenyan forces, include Al Jazeera, Arbao and Marka all in Sector I of Atmis under Uganda Peoples Defence Forces; Gherille in Sector II under Kenya Defence Forces, while Cadalle, Haaji Cali and Mirtugo are Sector V manned by Burundi troops.
