The African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM ) troops are expected be reduced by 1000 in February.
This is, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2431(2018).
The Resolution authorizes the member states of the African Union to reduce the number of uniformed AMISOM personnel by 28 February 2019 without “further delay”.
The first reduction of troops from Somalia was undertaken in December 2017.
Speaking on Saturday after meeting the president of African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, HirShabelle state President, Mohamed Abdi Waare, said that the transition should be done carefully so as not to leave the country vulnerable to attacks.
“The transition plan is finally becoming a reality and there are painful decisions that have to be taken,” President Waare observed.
Ghana, Djibouti to deploy additional police personnel to Somalia
Late last year, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Troop and Police Contributing Countries met and approved AMISOM’s Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for the transition period.
The document will guide how the transition plan will be implemented.
A 22,000 troop comprising of troops from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti,Uganda and Burundi have been in Somalia trying to fight the Alshabaab militants who have staged several attacks in Somalia and Kenya.
The Ugandan contingent remains the largest contingent with 6,223 troops based in Banadir (Mogadishu), Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.
The Burundi contingent is the second largest within AMISOM with 5,432 troops who are based in Bay and Bakool regions.
The Ethiopia National Defence Forces (ENDF) comes third with 4395 uniformed personnel.
There are 3664 troops from Kenya who are mostly based in the port city of Kismayo.
Djibouti has the least troops at 960 who are based at Beletweyne which is the capital of the Hiiran region.
