A UN security council resolution requiring the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to withdraw by 2021 is causing a lot of debate among the AMISOM commanders in regard to the preparedness of the Somali National Army (SNA) to take on the challenge.
AMISOM started downsizing its troops last year, reducing the numbers from 22,000 to 21,000.
Brig Paul L’Okech, the commander of the Ugandan contingent in Somalia says the Somali army isn’t ready yet to take over. Photo: Nicholas Bamulanzeki
Each of the troop contributing country reduced its presence by at least 250 soldiers according to Col Richard Omwega, the AMISOM force spokesman. Omwega belongs to the Kenya Defence Forces.
“After 10 years of presence, the UN wants us to power to the Somali National Army but the transition is condition based; that as we move, there must be a stable and secure country,” Omwega said.
According to the withdraw plan, another 1,000 troops will be withdrawn in October this year which comes with a closure of a forward operating base (FOB) for each of the troop contributing countries. Besides Uganda and Kenya, AMISOM has troops from Burundi, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
The big debate among the AMISOM commanders is whether the UN wish is achievable within three years.
“The transition must be shaped in such a way that the SNA is well trained and prepared. They are well trained but not well prepared to take over the challenge,” said Brig Paul L’Okech, the commander of the Ugandan contingent in Somalia.
“It needs to be well handled otherwise we may go back to square one,” he added.