MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- African Union Transition Mission in
Somalia (ATMIS) said on Wednesday that its troops have handed over two
more military bases, bringing to four the number of bases that have so
far been taken over by the Somali security forces.
ATMIS said
the bases handed over on Tuesday include Adale in Hirshabelle State
which was occupied by the Burundi National Defence Forces (BNDF) and
Albao in Southwest State, which was under the responsibility of the
Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF).
Jean Claude Niyiburana,
ATMIS Burundi contingent commander, handed over the Adale base to Saney
Abdulle, Somali National Army (SNA) brigade commander.
Niyiburana called on the Somali security forces taking over the position
to remain vigilant and continue the fight to defeat al-Shabaab and
secure the local population. "You know this area better and
al-Shabaab continues to target Somali security forces and ATMIS troops
across all sectors. Stay vigilant as the enemy does not rest,"
Niyiburana said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of
Somalia.
The other two military bases that have already been handed over to the SNA include Haji-Ali and Mirtiquo.
Milton Katarinyeba, ATMIS military chief of operations officer,
appealed to the Somali security forces to protect the local populations
from al-Shabaab attacks.
ATMIS is withdrawing 2,000 troops by
the end of June in compliance with United Nations Security Council
Resolutions 2628 and 2670 which require ATMIS to gradually transfer
security responsibilities to the Somali security forces.
Abdulle assured that the Somali forces were ready to secure the country
and defeat al-Shabab. "We have made progress in the war against
al-Shabaab, and we will stay the course and defeat them."
Steven Kashagama, ATMIS commander of Albao military base, expressed
confidence in the SNA to secure the population and defend the area
against al-Shabaab.
"We are handing over the security
responsibility for Albao and the neighboring areas to the Somali
security forces. For the time I have been with them, they have shown
charisma, energy, and resilience. I have no doubt they are ready to
secure the population," Kashagama said. ■