African Union Transition Mission in Somalia | |
---|---|
Hawlgalka Isbeddelka Midowga Afrika ee Somaaliya | |
Leaders | Head of ATMIS Ambassador
Mohamed El-Amine Souef ATMIS Force Commander Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding Police Commissioner Hillary Sao Kanu [1] |
Dates of operation | 1 April 2022 – present |
Headquarters | Mogadishu |
Size | 14,626 uniformed personnel, inclusive of 1,040 police personnel [2] |
Allies | Somalia |
Opponents | Al-Shabaab |
Battles and wars | Somali Civil War |
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is an active African Union transition and drawdown mission from peacekeeping operations in Somalia. Formerly the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), ATMIS's mandate will end in 2024, with full transition of security operations to the Somali National Armed Forces. [3] ATMIS consists of troops from the East African nations of Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. [4]
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia was formed on 1 April 2022, following the end of the AMISOM mandate on 31 March. The mission is focused on both military and institutional autonomy of the Somali government as the African Union pulls out. [5] The mission's mandate is set to end on 31 December 2024, when Somali Security Forces are expected to fully take over the security responsibilities of the country, guided by the Somalia Transition Plan. The first reduction of troops to ease into the end of the peacekeeping mission will take place in December 2022. [3]
On 2 March 2023 Hillary Sao Kanu is named Commissioner of Police of the ATMIS with the aim to maintain security and stability in the region, train the local police force and provide equipment. [6] [7]
On 6 April 2022, the Prime Minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble orders African Union Ambassador to Somalia Francisco Madeira persona non grata to leave the country within 48 hours because of "engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status," after audio emerged of him criticizing government officials for not dealing with national security problems. President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a major critic of PM Roble, immediately rejects the expulsion. [8] [9] On 16 April 2022, plans for a new African Union ambassador to come to Somalia to replace Francisco Madeira begin, after the controversy on 6 April that soured relations with the Prime Minister. [9]