The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the hybrid African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by three months to help the horn of African nation deal with the al-Shabaab insurgency raging in the country since 2010.
The decision reached Thursday under Resolution 2614/2021 grants the peacekeeping force another mandate as Somalia and the African Union discuss whether to completely withdraw or rebrand to an AU-UN hybrid mission.
“The UN Security Council has authorized member states of the African Union to maintain the deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia until 31 March 2022,” the resolution states.
The UNSC also requested the UN Secretary-General to continue to provide logistical support to Somalia.
“The UN Security Council further authorizes AMISOM to take all necessary measures in full compliance with participating states’ obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in full respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, to carry out its mandate as set out,” the statement states.
The resolution to add three months to AMISOM’s stay, whose mandate was to expire on December 31, means the African Union force will continue with its operations against the al-Shabaab militants pending a formal deal between Mogadishu and the AU on whether the mission should exit, restructure or reorganize.
In March, the UN Security Council extended the AMISOM mandate from February to December 2021 to allow for talks on its future, which could also include a review of the concept of operations by the AU and Somalia.
MG/as/APA