Addis Ababa — The African Union Peace and Safety Council (AUPSC) has demanded enough, sustainable, and predictable funding for the soon-to-be-established follow-up mission in Somalia.
That is within the wake of the exit of the AU Transition Mission within the Horn of Africa nation in December this yr.
“The AUPSC welcomes the proposal by the Somali authorities for a post-AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) safety association and takes notice of the request by Somalia for an AU-led, UN-authorised peace help operation to exchange the ATMIS from January 1, 2025,” the AUPSC mentioned in an announcement on Monday.
The ATMIS is ready to withdraw from Somalia in December this yr.
Nevertheless, preparations are underway for a subsequent mission that goals to maintain the progress made up to now and the continuing momentum within the battle in opposition to al-Shabaab, a navy group searching for to overthrow the Somali authorities and institute a extra puritanical model of Islam.
The AUPSC, which is the decision-making organ of the AU for the prevention, administration, and determination of conflicts, reiterated the necessity to proceed supporting Somalia by offering capability constructing to the Somali safety forces.
The AUPSC mentioned this can assist the Somali authorities speed up its power era and integration efforts to make sure the efficient assumption of safety obligations after the complete draw-down of the ATMIS to keep away from the creation of a safety vacuum in January 2025.
The AUPSC requested the AU Fee to undertake complete and detailed planning primarily based on the scenario on the bottom, together with endeavor risk assessments in session with Somalia, ATMIS troop-contributing international locations, and the United Nations.
The ATMIS withdrew 5,000 troops from Somalia and handed over 13 navy bases to the Somali Safety Forces throughout the first and second phases of the draw-down concluded in 2023.
The AU mission is making ready to withdraw a further 4,000 troops from Somalia in June this yr.
MG/as/APA
