Kenya pre-deployment training for Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) troops is intensifying as the East Africa country prepares for deployment of its second ATMIS contingent to Somalia. This will be the second Kenyan contingent to operate in the war-torn Somalia under the ATMIS mandate.
The training that commenced in August (2022) is gaining moment as aims at sharpening the contingent capabilities militarily as well as arming the troops will requisite skills and knowledge for peace and support of the operation. The training covers on the current state Somalia stabilization, and humanitarian efforts, in addition to garnering an awareness on the state of operations and security.
According to KDF sources, the troops are undergoing a rigorous training that will arm/equip them with capabilities to cope with the harsh conditions in Somalia. The troops morale is high and are very receptive to the training besides receptive to the various simulation exercises there are undertaking as a measure the troop’s mission readiness.
KDF has previously operated in Somalia under AMISOM alongside Somalia Security Forces for more than a decade in an effort to degrade the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab militants that has been fighting to topple the Federal Government. The peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) was renamed ATMIS in 2022.
AMISOM, currently ATMIS mission was redesigned with Somalia taking a led phased mission in an effort to build a capable Somali National Army (SNA) that will be able to fight, annihilate and subsequently eliminate Al-Shabaab operations. Then, ATMIS will be able to hand over all primary security responsibility to SNA possibly by 2024.
The troop contributing countries (TCCs) include Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti who are deployed throughout south-central Somalia where Al-Shabaab maintain a notable control besides waging frequent attacks.
