By Dawan Africa - Reporter
Addis Ababa(Mogadishu24)-At the 37th African Union (AU) Summit, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), under the leadership of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, received high praise for the progress it has made in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Troop and Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) were also commended for their sacrifices and support towards the FGS's efforts.
The summit appealed to member states and the international community, especially bilateral partners, to amplify their support for the FGS at this critical juncture. This included enhancing force generation to degrade and ultimately defeat Al-Shabaab, and promoting social cohesion and the extension of stabilization initiatives, particularly in areas recently liberated.
The summit further commended the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and other partners for their continuous financial and logistical backing of ATMIS.
Acknowledging the progress in the transition of security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somali Security Forces, the AU directed its Commission to consult with the FGS, T/PCCs, the UN, and other partners to reach a consensus on the security transition, including the Phase 3 drawdown scheduled for June 2024 and the final ATMIS exit by December 2024.
The AU also called on its Commission and the FGS to take appropriate measures to preserve the gains and sacrifices made over 17 years of AU’s engagement in Somalia. In addition, the summit welcomed the disbursement of USD 3.5 million from the Crisis Reserve Facility (CRF) of the AU Peace Fund and USD 19,068,914 from AU Member States contributions to bridge the USD 25,895,129 funding gap in ATMIS operations. This financial support signifies the AU's commitment to ensuring a stable and secure Somalia post-ATMIS exit.
