Kenya is preparing to send fresh troops to Somalia as part of its ATMIS committments.
Soldiers preparing to serve in Somalia have been in pre-deployment training since August, according to the Kenyan military.
Brigade Commander William Kamoiro said the intense training is required to face battle-hardened Al Shabaab militants.
“We are currently going through a very vigorous training regime to be able to cope with the conditions in Somalia. The morale is high and we are very receptive to the training. We continue to exercise the integration of various capabilities and to conduct simulation exercises, both of which are requisites to validate the training objectives. It is also a measure of our mission readiness.”
The group is the second Kenyan contingent to operate in Somalia under the ATMMIS mandate.
Earlier this year, the UN endorsed a rehatting off the AMISOM mandate into a Somali-led transition mission called The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The troop contributing countries (TCCs) include Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti who are deployed throughout south-central Somalia.
The military component will have 18 586 troops until December 31, 2022, when it will be reduced by 2000 troops. There will be more graduated drawdowns in September 2023 and June 2024, with a final exit in December 2024.
The drawdowns will be guided by regular joint technical assessments and will take into account the current security situation in Somalia.
