(25-01-24) KISMAYO (Halqabsi News) – Ethiopian troops, part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), have withdrawn from Ma Dhama camp in the northern outskirts of Kismayo, Jubaland State. This departure, amid escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over a maritime dispute, marks a significant shift in the region’s military landscape.
A farewell ceremony at Kismayo University campus underscored the importance of this move. The handover of the Ma Dhama camp to Somali security forces was managed by Gen Yusuf Hussein Osman Dhumal of Jubaland and Gen Ali Mohamed Mohamud Bagmadow of the Somali National Army, facilitated by ATMIS’s Gen. Lucas Kutto.
This withdrawal aligns with the ongoing ATMIS strategy to gradually transfer security responsibilities to Somali forces, aiming for a complete handover by year’s end. It signifies a pivotal step in Somalia’s journey towards autonomous security management and highlights the changing nature of international military involvement in the region.
Halqabsi News
