The National Army officially assumes responsibility for the security of the presidential palace

 
On Sunday, the Somali National Army officially assumed responsibility for the security of the Presidential Palace and the Somali Federal Parliament, ending the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMS)’s 16-year-long mission.

The handover ceremony at the Presidential Palace was attended by the Commander of the Somali National Army, General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyiddin, the Commander of the Presidential Palace Guard, Abdelhakim Mohamed Yusuf, and representatives from the African Union and the United Nations in Somalia.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised the 77th Brigade of the National Army, which assumes security responsibility for the country's leaders, and said that assuming responsibility for securing the presidential palace from African forces is a step that shows the restoration of the capacity and strength of the Somali National Armed Forces.

The Army Commander visited the forces guarding the presidential palace and expressed his gratitude to the leaders and soldiers of AMISOM who have been responsible for the security of the country’s leadership for many years.