Multinational force to take over security operations in Somalia

A multinational force will replace the current African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia by the end of the year, Somali National Security Adviser Hussein Sheikh-Ali told The National.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) is expected to wind up its operations on December 31.

It will end the presence of the AU force in Somalia 17 years after it was sent to help drive the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabab militant group out of Mogadishu, and to support the federal government.

The AU force is operating under a UN mandate to counter a resurgence of Al Shabab and to train Somali security forces.

The posting of a multinational force in its stead is likely to face a backlash from some Somalis, who were hoping to see the country’s own armed forces take over.

However, while the multinational force will be smaller than Atmis, it will be better equipped than the Somali army, and a stronger option for combating Al Shabab than local security forces.

The new force will secure key government and diplomatic installations in the country, said Mr Sheikh-Ali, who has been leading Somalia’s negotiations on the transition from Atmis.

Talks on the issue were also held before the AU heads of state summit, which was held at the bloc’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa over the weekend, and was attended by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“Discussions are already ongoing at AU headquarters, UN headquarters and Mogadishu on this new multinational force between the federal government of Somalia, AU, UN and donor partners,” Mr Sheikh-Ali told The National.

“The mandate of the new forces will be to protect key government infrastructure within Somalia and the logistics hubs of the Somalia Security Forces as well as areas where foreign diplomatic missions, UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations are located.

“We estimate the new multinational forces to be around 3,000 to 8,000 and they will closely work with an equal number of Somali forces who will co-locate with them to eventually take over Somalia’s security responsibilities from them after 12 months,” he said, referring to plans for Somali forces to embed with the multinational coalition.

The role of the mission will be reassessed after 12 months, with an option for an extension depending on the security situation in the country, he added.

The strength of Atmis has dropped over the years to about 14,200 troops, from 22,000 at its outset.