Mogadishu, December 17, 2023; The Somali National Army officially took over the security of the Presidential Palace and the Federal Parliament of Somalia today, ending the 16-year-long presence of the African Union transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in the country’s seat of power.
The handover ceremony at Villa Somalia was attended by the Somali National Army Commander General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhidiin, the Presidential Palace Chief of Staff Mr. Abdihakim Mohamed Yusuf, and the representatives of the African Union and the United Nations in Somalia.
President Mohamud praised the 77th Brigade of the National Army for taking over the security responsibility of the country’s leaders and said that this step shows the recovery of the capacity and power of the Somali National Armed Forces.
General Muhidiin visited the troops guarding the Presidential Palace and expressed his gratitude to the AMISOM commanders and soldiers who have been supporting the security of the country’s leadership for many years.
ATMIS has been deployed in Somalia since 2007 to help the Somali government fight against the militant group Al-Shabaab and restore stability and peace in Somalia. The mission has gradually reduced its troops and transferred security responsibilities to the Somali security forces as part of the transition plan agreed in 2017.
The handover of the Presidential Palace marks the completion of the transition process and the full assumption of security by the Somali National Army. The ATMIS spokesperson said that the mission will continue to provide training, mentoring, and logistical support to the Somali security forces until its mandate expires in 2024.
