AU to withdraw troops from Somalia in 2020

The African Union will withdraw its soldiers from Somalia by December 2020. 

A statement issued by the union said the exit strategy of the 22 thousand troops will begin  in October 2018.  

The plan was made public this week, following a meeting in Addis Ababa on June 29. 

The AU said transfer of security responsibilities would then be handed over to a capable, inclusive and effective Somali national army.  

AMISOM troops were deployed to Somalia in 2007 to defend the internationally-backed government against attacks by Shabaab, a Somali-led al-Qaeda affiliate. 


SOURCE: NEWS24