In November, the Security Council renewed the arms embargo in place since 1992. "The partial UN arms embargo on Somalia hinders the federal government of Somalia's ability to adequately resource its security forces in order to counter the evolving threat of Al-Shabaab," said Yusuf. "Creating a security vacuum is unacceptable."Īgainst this backdrop, Somalia again called for an arms embargo to be lifted. "We should not be hasty when it comes to withdrawing the African peacekeeping mission from Somalia," said Deputy Russian Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva. Noting Somalia's "progress" against the Al-Qaeda affiliate, the resolution expresses "grave concern that the terrorist group Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the peace, security and stability of Somalia and the region." The Council also said it is "ready to review these figures" in the light of the results of a technical assessment to be provided by Somalia and the AU by September 15, in particular to evaluate the first phase of the drawdown and provide "a clear plan and timetable" for the remainder. The resolution authorizing ATMIS until the end of 2023 was adopted unanimously on Tuesday, and sets a new ceiling of 14,626 uniformed personnel from October 1 to December 31. The withdrawal is "almost complete," deputy Somali ambassador Mohamed Rabi Yusuf said on Tuesday, adding that his government would undertake the "necessary preparations in coordination with the African Union for phase two and the withdrawal of 3,000 ATMIS troops by September." In accordance with previous Security Council resolutions, ATMIS began withdrawing 2,000 soldiers a few days ago, a process due to be completed by the end of June. The ATMIS contingent, which had included over 19,000 soldiers and police officers, will have to be reduced to zero by the end of 2024, with a gradual transfer of its activities to Somali forces. In April 2022, the Security Council approved the replacement of AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia), created in 2007, by ATMIS (African Transitional Mission in Somalia), also led by the AU but with a reinforced mandate to fight the Al-Shabaab Islamists.
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