Buurhakaba— Ethiopian troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) have formally withdrawn from Buurhakaba in Bay region, ending more than 12 years of deployment in the strategically important town.

AUSSOM said the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Buurhakaba has officially been handed over to the 60th Division of the Somali National Army (SNA), which will now assume responsibility for the facility and related security operations.

The Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) had maintained a presence at the base since 2014 as part of successive African Union missions in Somalia. During their deployment, Ethiopian troops played a significant role in securing Buurhakaba and supporting security operations across parts of Bay region.

According to AUSSOM, the handover forms part of the broader security transition aimed at strengthening Somali ownership of national security and gradually transferring responsibilities from African Union forces to the Somali Security Forces.

Buurhakaba is strategically located along key transport routes connecting several areas of South West State and southern Somalia. The withdrawal of Ethiopian forces places greater responsibility for the security of the town and surrounding areas on the Somali National Army and South West State authorities.

Sources familiar with the AUSSOM transition process say Buurhakaba is not the only location expected to undergo a similar handover. At least three other major towns are reportedly expected to be included in the next phase of the transition in the coming weeks.

The handover comes as Somalia intensifies efforts to strengthen the capacity of its national security forces and move towards full Somali responsibility for the country’s security.