UN mission in Somalia extended

The United Nations yesterday voted unanimously to extend and downgrade its mission in Somalia.

The Security Council extended its authorization of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 31 May 2018.

Resolution 2372 (2017), which the Council adopted yesterday, states that the number of uniformed personnel would be reduced to 20,626 by 30 October 2018, unless the Council decided to accelerate that pace, taking into account the capabilities of Somali security forces. The current maximum deployment was 22,126 uniformed personnel.

“AMISOM’s priority tasks would be, among other efforts, to conduct targeted offensive operations against Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups, including jointly with the Somali security forces, and to mentor the latter in cooperation with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).”

AMISOM’s strategic objectives would be to enable the gradual handover of its security responsibility to Somali security forces.

Somalia has been in a two-decade long conflict with the Al-Qaeda associated group, Al-Shabaab. The group seeks to implement a strict interpretation of Islamic law across Somalia and regularly attacks in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu using improvised explosive devices.

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