The AU mission in Somalia hands over three important bases to the Army in the process of withdrawal

June 28 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The African Union (AU) mission in Somalia has handed over control of three other important military bases to the Army as part of a withdrawal process that coincides with the upsurge in offensives by the Armed Forces and local militias against the Al Shabaab terrorist group.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has handed over to the Army the bases located in the towns of Mirtaquo, Hayi Ali and Adale, all of them in the Middle Shabelle region, a week after doing the same with another base in Xaaji Cali, as reported by the Somali news portal Somali Guardian.

These facilities were part of the seven forward operating bases that will be handed over by ATMIS to the Somali authorities by June 2023, when it expects to have withdrawn 2,000 soldiers from the African country.

Somalia has increased offensives against Al Shabaab in recent months with the support of clans and local militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, Hasan Sheikh Mohamud, who promised upon taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the African country.