The imminent exit of more African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) and the ultimate expiry of the force’s mandate at the end of this year have triggered unease among troop-contributing countries, with Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto raising the alarm for a need to revisit the pullout plan to avert a security vacuum.

The two leaders, whose countries contribute troops to Atmis, said after a meeting at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday that they were concerned about the threat of terrorism and insecurity “in our region and affirmed commitment to strengthen regional peace and security approaches and programmes.”

According to the United Nations Security Council road map, 4,000 Atmis troops are expected to leave Somalia at the end of June, in addition to the 5,000 who exited the mission last year in phases one and two of the drawdown, a situation that has created gaps for Al Shabaab elements to reclaim some lost territory.

“During my meeting with President Museveni, we expressed concern about the drawdown of Atmis in Somalia and we urged that the timelines for the drawdown align with the security conditions on the ground in Somalia,” President Ruto said in the joint communique.

This is a cautionary position but one that is popular within Somali civic leaders, whose communities bear the brunt of Al Shabaab attacks regularly, and who also support a review of the drawdown plan in view of the security situation in parts of Somalia that are currently prone to attacks.