Sec. Council Extends African Mission In Somalia

Security Council extends African mission in Somalia, plans for possible UN force

The Security Council today voted unanimously to extend the African Union-led mission in Somalia by six months while approving continued contingency planning for a possible United Nations peacekeeping operation in the war-ravaged country.

The mission, known as AMISOM, was created by the Council under Chapter VII this February, and is tasked with supporting dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia by assisting with the free movement, safe passage and protection of all those involved with the process. It also provides protection to the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) to help them carry out their functions of government, and security for key infrastructure.

The 15-member body today urged Member States to “provide financial resources, personnel, equipment and services for the full deployment of AMISOM.” Additionally, the resolution requested that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon consult with the AU Commission on what further support the UN can provide to AMISOM.

The resolution also requested that Mr. Ban continue with contingency planning for a possible deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission to replace AMISOM by sending a further technical assessment mission to the area as soon as possible, continuing talks with potential troop-contributing nations, and identifying the next steps for the UN and the international community to take.

The Council encouraged Member States whose military aircraft or naval ships operate close to Somalia to “be vigilant to any incident of piracy” and protect merchant shipping, particularly those transporting urgently-needed humanitarian aid.

According to UN figures, hundreds of thousands of people have fled the capital Mogadishu since heavy fighting broke out in February.

Hostilities in the country – which has had no functioning government for 16 years – flared up last year, culminating in the expulsion from Mogadishu in December of Islamist groups by the Transitional Federal Government, backed by Ethiopian troops.

ENDS

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