Somalia calls for further talks before AMISOM exit

The Somali government on Tuesday called for discussions before African Union peacekeepers hand over security responsibilities to local forces.
   

Abdisaid Muse Ali, national security advisor to the president of Somalia, said the move would safeguard the gains made over the years to liberated territories that were under the control of terrorist group al-Shabab.
   

"We do not want the sacrifices made to be fruitless," Abdisaid cautioned in a statement issued by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) after a meeting in Mogadishu.
   

The two-day meeting, attended by commanders and officials from the AMISOM troop-contributing countries, international partners and the Somali government, discussed the planned reduction of AMISOM military personnel in line with recommendations by the UN Security Council.
   

The meeting discussed future operations and the upcoming drawdown of 1,000 troops by the end of February.
   

The AMISOM military commanders have decided to cut another 1,000 troops from the regional peacekeeping force despite increased attacks from al-Shabab militants. The drawdown of an additional 1,000 uniformed personnel will take place by Feb. 28. (Xinhua)