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Muqdisho | QOL | July 30, 2017–Transitioning Somalia’s security from pan African mission to the country’s security forces will take place in a gradual and conditions-based manner, a joint meeting of the AU mission and Somalia government resolved on Saturday evening.

A communique issued by AMISOM at the end of a five-day meeting said the gradual process will ensure gains made against Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab are not reversed.

The meeting, which discussed in detail the implementation of the National Security Architecture derived from a security pact signed by Somalia’s leaders on April 16, called for “critical and urgent” joint operations across south and central Somalia to “further disrupt and degrade” Al-Shabaab.

“The Somalia National Army (SNA) sector commanders shared their immediate objectives and priority operations to further degrade Al-Shabaab,” the communique reads.

The joint operations are aimed at enhancing the protection of civilians, opening of Main Supply Routes blocked by the insurgents and creating a free and secure environment for the Somali people to thrive.

“We brainstormed, we tried to see how best we can move forward in terms of strategizing on the best way to implement these decisions and have a more stressed, affirmed impact on the battlefield against Al-Shabaab,” said Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) at the end of the five-day meeting.

“I’m very happy to say that these discussions were open, frank, they looked into everything and they came up with a very clear way forward. A clear approach and consensus,” he added.

During the meeting, there was also consensus that AMISOM and SNSF hold a planning meeting in August to plan for coordinated joint operations for the rest of the year and beyond. AMISOM will assist in the development of a counter-insurgency plan.

The joint meeting also renewed call for “adequate and predictable” funding to AMISOM, to enable the Mission capacitate the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF), to ready it for the transitioning of security responsibilities.

Participants said additional support would focus on furtherance of training, mentorship and equipping SNSF with the necessary infrastructure and mobility, to enable them conduct their security responsibilities effectively.

“The main objective is how we cooperate and pull all our efforts to make ends meet in ensuring that the objectives that are expected out of us, are delivered in the best manner that can support us, in stabilizing this nation,” Somali Federal Minister of Defence Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed said.

The meeting commended the current stabilization efforts in Mogadishu by the Federal Government of Somalia and the progress made in strengthening security in the regional states.