AU Security Council okays hybrid force amid Somalia’s objection

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ADDIS ABABA: The AU Peace and Security Council has adopted the deployment of a hybrid force to replace AMISOM by end-year despite Somalia’s unexplained opposition to the proposal.

The Council said in a communique Sunday it has settled on option one of the proposal set forth by an Independent Experts panel in July. The Council decides to ‘endorse Option 1 of the Independent Assessment Report, namely to establish an AU-UN Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in Somalia, deployed under Chapter VII of the UN Charter,” the communique read in part.

In its reasoning, the AU body said the hybrid structure was necessary to ‘ which would ensure predictable and sustainable multi-year financing for the future mission, through UN assessed contributions.’

The Independent Expertsled by South African military chief Major General Xolani Mankayi said in July the AU-UN forced would address challenges facing AMISOM such as sustainable financing, inadequate logistics, command and control issues, remuneration of staff, troops and police, manpower and staff shortages, and force generation for the mission.

SOMALIA REJECTS

Government spokesman Mohamed Moalimuu said upon the release of the expert’s report that Somalia did not accept the proposals. “In response to AU Independent Assessment Team’s Report, the Somali Government held an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the report and has rejected from the outset the report’s finding and recommendations and will issue a formal statement,” said Moalimuu. Somalia has since not made public its proposals on the future mandate of AMISOM.

The reconfigured mission, the report observes will take a comprehensive multidimensional approach, beyond the security and stabilisation process, to include Political affairs, Civil affairs, Human rights, Child protection and protection of vulnerable groups affairs, and Humanitarian assistance.

Unlike the current AU Mission (AMISOM), the hybrid force will have more police officers than the military. The experts propose 50% of formed police units, 30% military and 15% international civilian staff.

The new force will also have a Rapid Strike Force (RSF), and intervention Brigades tailored to the specific operational requirements of the Somalia environment.