# ATMIS, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, 2022–2024 > ATMIS, 2022–2024: why it was created, its drawdown in phases, the bases handed over, the attacks on its camps, and the move to AUSSOM. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/atmis/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## In short ATMIS was the second of three African Union missions in Somalia. It followed [AMISOM](/en/institutions/amisom/) (2007–2022) and was followed by [AUSSOM](/en/institutions/aussom/) (from 2025). Unlike AMISOM, it was built around a timetable: hand over to the [Somali National Army](/en/institutions/somali-national-army/) and leave. ## Creation The UN Security Council adopted resolution 2628 unanimously in March 2022, turning AMISOM into ATMIS ([Amani Africa, "ATMIS drawdown: UN bodies"](https://amaniafrica-et.org/?p=18602)). ATMIS began on 1 April 2022, the day after AMISOM's mandate ended, with its headquarters in Mogadishu ([Wikipedia, African Union Transition Mission in Somalia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union_Transition_Mission_in_Somalia)). The troop-sending countries were Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti (same source). Its leaders were the head of mission, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, and force commander Lieutenant General Sam Kavuma (same source). Within days of its start, on 6 April 2022, Prime Minister [Mohamed Hussein Roble](/en/people/mohamed-hussein-roble/) declared the outgoing AU envoy Francisco Madeira unwelcome; President [Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed](/en/people/mohamed-abdullahi-farmaajo/) rejected the order (same source). ## The drawdown in phases - **Phase one, 2,000 troops.** Extended by resolution 2670 to 30 June 2023. [Garowe Online](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/) reported on 4 July 2023 that it was complete, with bases at Xaaji Cali, Miirtugo, Cadale, Albao, Marka Ayub, Gherille in [Jubaland](/en/states/jubaland/) and Al-Jazeera in Mogadishu handed to the Somali army ([Garowe Online, 4 July 2023](https://garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/au-mission-completes-the-first-phase-of-troops-drawdown-in-somalia); [Amani Africa](https://amaniafrica-et.org/?p=18602)). - **Phase two, 3,000 troops.** Resolution 2687 of June 2023 set a ceiling of 14,626 by the end of September 2023 ([Garowe Online](https://garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/au-mission-completes-the-first-phase-of-troops-drawdown-in-somalia)). The deadline was later moved to the end of December 2023 ([Amani Africa](https://amaniafrica-et.org/?p=18602)). - **Phase three, 4,000 troops.** Planned for June 2024, then staggered under resolution 2741, which extended ATMIS to 12 August 2024 ([Amani Africa](https://amaniafrica-et.org/?p=18602)). In April 2024 ATMIS still had about 14,000 troops and 850 police ([Paul D. Williams, *CTC Sentinel*, April 2024](https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-somali-national-army-versus-al-shabaab-a-net-assessment/)). ## Attacks on its camps - **3 May 2022, El Baraf, Middle [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/).** [Al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/) attacked a Burundian camp. A Burundian officer said 30 soldiers were killed and 22 wounded; it was the first attack on ATMIS ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union_Transition_Mission_in_Somalia), citing Africanews). - **26 May 2023, Buulo Mareer, [Lower Shabelle](/en/infrastructure/k50-airstrip/).** Al-Shabaab overran a Ugandan camp after suicide car bombs. Uganda's president said 54 Ugandan soldiers were killed; al-Shabaab claimed 137. It was the deadliest attack on Ugandan troops since 2007 ([Mapping Militant Organizations, Stanford University](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/al-shabaab); [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union_Transition_Mission_in_Somalia)). On 17 July 2024 two civilians were shot dead at Buulo Mareer; ATMIS opened an investigation on 20 July (Wikipedia). ## Money and politics at the end ATMIS ended with a funding shortfall of more than US$100 million at 31 December 2024 ([Daisy Muibu and Yayedior Mbengue, *CTC Sentinel*, May 2025](https://ctc.westpoint.edu/somalia-at-a-crossroads-resurgent-insurgents-fragmented-politics-and-the-uncertain-future-of-aussom/)). In May 2024 Somalia asked the UN to end the mission as planned. Tension between [Somalia and Ethiopia](/en/relations/ethiopia/), after Ethiopia's January 2024 agreement with [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/), made planning its successor harder ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union_Transition_Mission_in_Somalia)). On 1 January 2025 [AUSSOM](/en/institutions/aussom/) took over. ## Read the primary sources yourself - Amani Africa, "ATMIS drawdown: UN bodies (UNSC and UNSOS)": [page](https://amaniafrica-et.org/?p=18602). - *CTC Sentinel*, "Somalia at a crossroads" (May 2025): [article](https://ctc.westpoint.edu/somalia-at-a-crossroads-resurgent-insurgents-fragmented-politics-and-the-uncertain-future-of-aussom/). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.