The African Union peacekeeping troops –AMISOM, serving in Somalia plans to withdraw its troops beginning October 2018 and to be completed by the end of 2020.
According to the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Ambassador Franscisco Caetano Madeira, AMISOM has trained at least 20,000 Somali government soldiers ahead of the planned exit.
The head of the mission also said that AU withdrawal of troops in Somalia will also depend on the number of trained Somalia soldiers expected to take over the security of the country, credible 2016 elections and a success de-radicalization initiatives among the vulnerable youth.
AU deployed the peacekeeping troops in Somalia in 2007 to defend the government against the insurgent Al-Shabaab group affiliated to al-Qaeda.
The African countries contributing it army troops in Somalia include Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Burundi.
African Union Mission in Somalia is has a 22,000 strong-force manning five sectors across Somalia.
AU mission in Somalia has also deployed police. Police contributing countries include Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Despite the huge challenges in Somalia, Mr Madeira praised the AMISOM team saying had done a good job.
