The UN Security Council Extended AMISOM Mission in Somalia

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The United Nations Security Council has extended its authorization for the AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) until 31^st May 2018. The UN Security Council also approved a reduction of its uniformed personnel to a maximum 21,626 by the end of December 2017. It was due to a step toward the slow but sure handover the responsibilities to the Somali security forces. The Security Council is consistently adopting a new resolution. The Council also decided to downsize the first ever for the African-led operation and it might include a minimum of 1,040 AMISOM trained police personnel, including 5 Formed Police Units. The current maximum uniformed personnel are 22,126 and it will be reduced to 20,626 by the end of October 2018, but it will be according to the capabilities of Somali Security Forces.

The UN Security Council emphasized the long-term objective for Somalia with international support and it will remain until handover the entire responsibility of security to the Somali Security Forces. The Council welcomed the recommendation by the AU-UN review for a Gradual & Phased reduction and reorganization of the Mission. The strategic objectives of AMISOM would be to enable the gradual handover of its security responsibility to the security forces of Somalia after a significant amount of decrease in the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups. The AMISOM will assist Somali security forces in providing security for Somalia’s political process and peace building efforts. The Council also decided that the priority tasks of AMISOM will be to conduct targeted offensive operations against Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups.