Security Council Extends Authorization for Africa Union Mission in Somalia

UNITED NATIONS, (Xinhua) — The UN Security Council on Thursday extended the authorization of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) until Dec. 31, 2024.

The Security Council, by unanimously adopting resolution 2748, authorized African Union member states to continue to deploy up to 12,626 uniformed personnel, inclusive of 1,040 police personnel, to ATMIS until the end of this year. The vote followed the adoption on Monday of resolution 2747, a technical rollover that extended the mission’s authorization by three days.

The resolution encouraged traditional and new donors to support ATMIS, the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) administered Trust Fund in support of Somali security forces, and the proposed successor mission in order to enable Somalia to bolster its fight against Al-Shabaab.

The council requested the UN secretary-general to continue providing a logistical support package through the UNSOS, and decided to continue support for 20,900 personnel from the Somali National Army or Somali National Police Force, on joint or coordinated operations with ATMIS, until Dec. 31.

The council asked the secretary-general, jointly with the African Union Commission chairperson and in consultations with Somalia and international stakeholders, to report by Nov. 15 on the overall mission design for the proposed successor mission, guided by a clear national political strategy to support the federal government of Somalia in its transition from conflict to peace.

The report will include, among other items, a proposed mission structure, a transition plan for UNSOS and ATMIS to the successor mission, as well as a comprehensive exit strategy for the successor mission.