The African Union begins the second phase of withdrawing its forces from Somalia

September 18, 2023 (Anatolia) The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) announced the start of the second phase of the withdrawal of its peacekeeping forces in the country.

"We have begun the second phase of the withdrawal of our forces and have begun with the handover of the Biyo Cadde base to the Somali National Armed Forces," the mission said in a statement Sunday.

The base, located in Somalia's southern central Shabelle province, housed a Burundi National Defence Force unit operating under the command of Atmeis.

In an official ceremony, Lt. Col. Philippe Bhutwe, commander of the Atemis mission, handed over the base to Somali army representative Major Muhyiddin Ahmed, according to the statement.

In August, preparations began for the second phase of the operation, which sees 3,000 African troops withdraw by the end of September.

On 20 June 2023, the first batch of 2,000 peacekeepers left the country, as part of the Somali government's transition plan in collaboration with its partners to transfer security responsibilities to the national army successively.

ATMIS, formerly known as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), is a multidimensional mission authorized since 2007 by the African Union and mandated by the United Nations Security Council to operate in the Horn of Africa country.

The mission aims to assist the Somali government in its fight against the terrorist group al-Shabab.

The group has stepped up attacks since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected to a second term last year, declared "all-out war" against its members.