(18-05-23) MOGADISHU – Senior officials from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), led by Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef and China’s Ambassador to Somalia, Fei Shengchao, recently visited Baidoa, the administrative capital of the South West State of Somalia. They met with State President, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, among others.
“We discussed the security situation, territorial integrity, and the ongoing stabilization efforts,” said Ambassador Souef, as quoted on the ATMIS website. The officials also discussed ATMIS’s planned troop drawdown in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions, set to begin in June.
The delegation, which included new ATMIS Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, also met with Ethiopian and Ghanaian forces stationed in Baidoa. “ATMIS troops conduct daily joint operations with the local forces to secure the state,” noted the SRCC.
Ambassador Souef commended the Ethiopian and Ghanaian troops’ contributions against Al Shabaab threats, and Lt. Gen. Okiding affirmed their commitment to a smooth transition. China’s Ambassador Shengchao echoed these sentiments, reaffirming China’s support for the ongoing security and peace-building efforts in Somalia.
The visit underscored ATMIS’s commitment to maintaining security, stability, and prosperity in the region.
