Experts are raising concerns over the gradual withdrawal of the African Union peacekeeping mission, AMISOM in Somalia. The mission is due to hand over security to local forces, but there are concerns they are not ready. CGTN's Abdulaziz Billow explains.

African Union troops from Kenya conduct a patrol mission along a strategic town that lies along the border- it shares with Somalia - Kenya is a among countries who've contributed troops to AMISOM, a multinational peacekeeping force tasked with ending militant threats in the region. The town of Baardhere in Gedo region was among the latest to be liberated by Kenyan troops - years later - the town is booming - Baardheere is back to life after years of Al-Shabaab rule. With more than 4000 boots on the ground - Nairobi is among the biggest contributors to the force after Kampala and Bujumbura whose forces form the bulk of the 22,000 strong mission. Seven years later - these forces are planning a gradual pullout from the horn of African nation and to hand over more than sixteen forward operating bases to Somali forces.

ABDULAZIZ BILLOW MOGADISHU, SOMALIA "Since 2011, Kenya has been largely credited with pacifying southern Somalia - but the liberation might have come at a heavy price - Al-Shabaab has intensified its attacks inside Kenya - back in Somalia - its has killed scores of Kenyan soldiers after overrunning several of its military bases".

Ahmed Weli is an independent analyst and argues that pulling out will only embolden the militant group.

AHMED WELI INDEPENDENT ANALYST "The threat level in Kenya remains high compared to when Kenya crossed over into Somalia. In the event of an abrupt pullout Kenya will lose because Al_Shabaab will reinforce its troops and attack Kenya from border towns and turn North Eastern Kenya into a battle ground".

In 2015 an Al-Shabaab attacks killed 150 students at a university in the town of Garissa, northeastern Kenya, several months later, it killed more than a hundred soldiers after overran a military base in El Ade - along the border between the two countries. Eleven years since its formation AMISOM is planning to handover security to Somalia's armed forces as part of a United Nations Security Council timeline - experts however say that the timing is not right - arguing that Mogadishu isn't ready to go it alone just yet.

AHMED WELI INDEPENDENT ANALYST "A lot of things must be put into perspective. First we have to ensure that those troops are trained to capacity and are well equipped for the task ahead. We need to know where those troops are, their number and capability before handing over security responsibility to them".

Somalia says it is in the process of strengthening its armed forces - but needs more time before taking over security of a country that's battling a militant organization that was recently ranked the deadliest terrorist outfit in the African continent.

ABDULAZIZ BILLOW, CGTN, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA.