Ahmad 
The Somali government called for postponing the withdrawal of the African peacekeeping force “ATMIS” in order to avoid a security vacuum that might enhance the return of the “Al-Shabaab” movement after the defeats it suffered.
The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia is scheduled to withdraw by December 31 of this year, to be replaced by a smaller African force. However, the Mogadishu authorities have requested to postpone the withdrawal of half of the forces scheduled for this June, consisting of 4,000 soldiers, until next September.
This request came after a joint assessment between Somalia and the African Union, which recommended amending the withdrawal timetable based on the readiness of the Somali forces, warning that a “hasty withdrawal” may lead to a security vacuum.
This assessment was issued by the UN Security Council, which stressed the need to act cautiously to avoid serious security repercussions.
Meanwhile, the European Union and the United States, the main funders of the African Union force, are pushing to scale back the operation over financial sustainability concerns.
“Reuters” quoted three diplomatic sources as saying that “negotiations on a new force have proven to be complex,” as the African Union seeks a stronger mandate than Somalia wants.
The sources added that the political conflict may push Ethiopia to withdraw some of its forces from the fighting, which further complicates the security situation in Somalia.
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