(08 April 2024) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) — The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) held its 1205th meeting on 26 March and 3 April 2024, focusing on Somalia’s proposal for a post-African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) security arrangement. The discussions came in response to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2710 (2023), outlining the need for a robust framework to replace ATMIS by 1 January 2025.
The council reaffirmed its unwavering support for Somalia’s aspirations towards achieving durable peace, stability, and prosperity, emphasising the crucial nature of preserving the progress made in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The Federal Government of Somalia’s proposal seeks an AU-led, UN-authorised peace support operation, marking a strategic shift towards Somali-led security efforts. The initiative is aimed at ensuring the continuity of security responsibilities and avoiding potential vacuums post-ATMIS.
In light of these developments, the PSC has requested comprehensive planning from the AU Commission, including detailed threat assessments and consultations with the Federal Government of Somalia, ATMIS Troop Contributing Countries, and the UN. A report back to the council by the end of April 2024 is expected, alongside a focused discussion on addressing ATMIS’s funding challenges to secure adequate, sustainable, and predictable support for Somalia’s security transition.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), with logistical support from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), on February this year concluded Phase Two of its drawdown process. The second phase of the exercise saw a reduction of 3,000 soldiers from its ranks and involved the handover of seven Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), with two additional FOBs being closed.
Halqabsi News
