<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>Somaliac – Somaliland.com</title> <atom:link href="https://www.somaliland.com/tag/somaliac/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.somaliland.com</link> <description>News and Info About Somaliland and The Horn of African Countries: Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Eritrea</description> <lastBuildDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2024 12:09:18 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1</generator> <image> <url>https://i0.wp.com/www.somaliland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/cropped-Flag_of_Somaliland.svg.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1</url> <title>Somaliac – Somaliland.com</title> <link>https://www.somaliland.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">152653665</site> <item> <title>African Union Completes Second Phase of Troop Drawdown in Somalia</title> <link>https://www.somaliland.com/news/african-union-completes-second-phase-of-troop-drawdown-in-somalia/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[xamse]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2024 12:09:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Horn of Africa News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Security]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Somalia]]></category> <category><![CDATA[African Union]]></category> <category><![CDATA[AU]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Somaliac]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.somaliland.com/?p=29713</guid> <description><![CDATA[The African Union’s peacekeeping force in Somalia, known as the African Union Transition Mission in.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>The African Union’s peacekeeping force in Somalia, known as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), announced the successful completion of the second phase of troop drawdown after a four-month delay. In a statement released on Friday, the drawdown involved the reduction of 3,000 troops from the mission.</p> <p>The decision to pause the drawdown was initiated by the Mogadishu government following setbacks against the Al-Shabaab jihadists, an Al-Qaeda-linked insurgency group operating in Somalia.<br>The government had requested a three-month “technical pause” in the drawdown initially scheduled for September.<br>According to ATMIS, seven forward operating bases were handed over to the internationally-backed Somali government, and two others were closed as part of the completed Phase Two drawdown.<br>Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, speaking on behalf of ATMIS, stated, “We will soon start preparations for the next phase, Phase Three, to reduce our numbers by 4,000 troops in June.”<br>The first two phases of the withdrawal saw a total reduction of 5,000 soldiers. Currently, approximately 14,600 troops from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda remain deployed in Somalia as part of the peacekeeping mission.<br>ATMIS is operating under a UN calendar, with plans to complete its withdrawal from the Horn of Africa nation by the end of the year. The mission aims to hand over control to Somali security forces, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to stabilize the region</p> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">29713</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>