Jowhar, 21 June 2024 – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Thursday transferred management of the Jowhar City Ahead Working Base (FOB) to the Somali Nationwide Armed Forces (SNAF). It’s the second FOB to be handed over in Part Three of the troop drawdown.
Located within the strategic Center Shabelle area, the Jowhar City FOB has been below the command of the Burundi Nationwide Defence Forces (BNDF) since 2014. The FOB, which incorporates Horseed, Parliament, and State Home army bases, serves as a safety buffer for safeguarding the Hirshabelle State Presidential Palace, Parliament, and the area people.
The ability can be key to securing the Mogadishu-Jowhar Important Provide Route (MSR), offering VIP safety escorts, and aiding humanitarian organisations within the area.
Talking on the handover, the ATMIS Sector 5 Commander, Col. Oscar Hatugimana stated, “This handover demonstrates progress and Somalia’s dedication to rebuilding their nation. We depend on you to guard the inhabitants, keep peace and safety in areas below your management, and safeguard the hard-won features.”
“Now we have full confidence in our Somali counterparts. Now we have seen them efficiently assault, seize, and maintain floor. This sends a transparent message to terrorist teams that their days are numbered. A professionally educated and well-equipped SNAF is certainly a game-changer in combating terrorism in Somalia,” he added.
Col. Suleiman Ibrahim, representing ATMIS’s Deputy Power Commander in Cost of Help and Logistics, stated, “This can be a important occasion because it demonstrates the dedication and capability of SNAF to imagine safety tasks whereas ATMIS offers help.”
The Chief of UNSOS Transition Planning Cell, Patrick Duah, underscored UNSOS’s important function in fostering the transition course of by constructing capability and offering logistical help to SNAF and ATMIS.
“UNSOS has educated about 30 SNAF technicians to function and keep the tools that we’re handing over right this moment. The UN-owned tools we’re donating contains mills, storage tanks, water remedy vegetation, freezers, boreholes, and photo voltaic panels,” stated Patrick Duah.
The SNAF Commander within the Center Shabelle area, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf Nuur, counseled ATMIS for his or her efficient function in degrading Al-Shabaab and reaffirmed SNAF’s dedication to reaching regional stability.
“I’m sure that the Somali Nationwide Armed Forces taking up will discharge their tasks efficiently. There can be no gaps. SNAF will assume the mantle of securing the area,” stated Brig. Gen. Nuur.
The State Minister of Finance, who represented the Hirshabelle State President, Abdirahman Ciise Dadow, affirmed the dedication of the federal member state to supporting the SNAF in securing the area.
The drawdown is in step with United Nations Safety Council Resolutions 2628 (2022), 2710 (2023), and 2719 (2023), which mandate ATMIS to switch safety tasks to the Federal Authorities of Somalia, as outlined within the Joint Idea of Operations (CONOPs) and the Somalia Transition Plan.
