UNITED NATIONS
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Thursday to endorse the African Union’s new transitional mission in Somalia and authorized it to take action against al-Qaida and Islamic State extremist groups and conduct a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somalia’s government.
The African Union Transitional
Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, replaces the African Union Mission in
Somalia, known as AMISOM, which has been in the Horn of Africa nation for 15
years trying to build lasting peace and security.
While the resolution adopted
by the council recognizes significant changes in the security situation since
it authorized AMISOM in February 2007 and improvements in Somalia’s capability
to respond to security challenges, it also reaffirms “the need to combat
terrorist threats by all means.”
Only in the past few years has
Somalia begun to find its footing after three decades of chaos from warlords to
the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group and the emergence of Islamic
State-linked extremist groups. Last year, a political crisis further postponed
long-delayed elections and lower house elections which were to be completed on
March 15 are still not complete, further delaying the vote for a new president.
The British-drafted resolution
authorizes the new ATMIS mission to support the Somali forces “in providing
security for the political process at all levels.”
The Security Council
underscored that completing the electoral process without further delay and achieving
“a peaceful transition of power” will help Somalia move ahead with its national
priorities and support its 2021 transition plan which outlines steps toward the
gradual handover of responsibilities for security from international forces to
the government.
The council reiterated its
objective “of enabling Somalia to take full responsibility for its own
security, including through assuming the leading role in countering and
addressing the threat posed by al-Shabab.”
The resolution authorizes
ATMIS to conduct jointly planned operations with Somali security forces “to
degrade al-Shabab and affiliates linked to ISIL,” an acronym for the Islamic
State group.
The council authorized AU
member nations to deploy up to 19,626 uniformed personnel, including a minimum
of 1.040 police, until Dec. 31, and endorsed the AU Peace and Security
Council’s decision to reduce the peacekeeping force by 2,000 by that date. It
authorized a reduced force of 17,626 between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2023, and
noted that a joint proposal including the AU and Somalia envisions further cuts
to 14,626 in September 2023, 10,626 in June 2024 and “zero personnel” by the
end of December 2024.
The resolution welcomes the
Somali government’s intention to generate 3,850 new security forces by December
2022, 8,525 new forces by September 2023 and 10,450 new forces by June 2024.
AMISOM was funded by voluntary
contributions, especially from the European Union, with logistical support from
the United Nations. The Security Council urged U.N. member nations, including
new donors, “to consider providing predictable, sustainable and multi-year
support for ATMIS.”
After the vote, Britain’s
deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki thanked council members for their support
“in the adoption of this landmark resolution.”
U.S. deputy ambassador Richard
Mills said the resolution “provides a vital opportunity to build on AMISOM’s
efforts and take the next steps to roll back al-Shabaab, enabling Somalia to
provide the security and stability required for the Somali people to achieve
their aspirations.”
“Al-Shabab is a formidable and
adaptable threat to Somalia, and to East Africa more broadly,” he said. “As
al-Qaeda’s largest and best financed affiliate, al-Shabab represents a threat
that requires a vigorous and broad-based response. The ATMIS mandate provides
the opportunity to adapt and reinvigorate the African-led, international effort
against al-Shabab.”
Albania’s political
coordinator Arian Spasse noted al-Shabab’s increased attacks on security forces
and civilians in recent months and called on the government again to complete
elections.
“It is crucial the newly
elected government turn its focus to the deteriorating security situation, to
the undertaking of reforms, and to the humanitarian crisis caused by the
unprecedented droughts, which is plunging the population into another famine,”
he said. “Further delays will give al-Shabaab more time to overshadow the
government’s effort to provide peace and prosperity, and will fuel al-Shabab
propaganda as an alternative to a democratically elected government.”
Somalia’s U.N. Ambassador
Abukar Osman expressed disappointment that the council’s resolution didn’t
provide more funding for its security forces, address the need for a unified
and centralized command for ATMIS, and greater logistical support
Addressing these issues will ensure that the resolution is aligned with Somalia’s strategic document on security, he said. - AP
No comments:
Post a Comment