ATMIS Withdrawal: Implications for Somalia’s and regional peace and security

The African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has recently withdrawn 3000 troops from Somalia and handed over seven military bases to the Somali government. This marks the second phase of the ATMIS withdrawal which is planned to be completed at the end of 2024. What does the withdrawal mean for Somalia’s security? How are neighboring countries affected by this decision? And probably most pressing, what needs to be done to ensure the security of the Somali people and the neighboring states that are threatened by Al-Shabaab terrorist attacks?

These were the main questions that the FES-IPSS Breakfast Meeting discussed with a variety of stakeholders on January 30 including representatives of the regional states and organizations, civil society and think tanks. The meeting was part of the FES-IPSS Breakfast Meeting Series that discusses geopolitical challenges in the Horn of Africa.

The participants shared their perspectives on the scenarios of post-ATMIS security situation in the region and reached a common understanding on the need to enhance military but also social and economic collaborations to enable the Somali government to fight terrorism and its root causes in the region.