AMISOM

AMISOM
JRC, European Commission · CC BY 4.0 · source
Unit name	African Union Mission in Somalia
Dates	2007 - present
Country	African Union
Branch	Peacekeeping
Garrison	Mogadishu
Engagements	War in Somalia (2006-2009), War in Somalia (2009-present)

AMISOM is a peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union in Somalia, with the primary goal of stabilizing the country and protecting its citizens from al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Boko Haram. The mission has been supported by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and the United States Department of State, with Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations Secretary-General, and António Guterres, the current United Nations Secretary-General, playing key roles in its establishment and operation. The mission has also received support from China, Russia, and the Arab League, with Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress.

Introduction

The African Union Mission in Somalia, also known as AMISOM, was established in 2007, with the primary objective of supporting the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and protecting its citizens from al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Boko Haram. The mission has been supported by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and the United States Department of State, with Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations Secretary-General, and António Guterres, the current United Nations Secretary-General, playing key roles in its establishment and operation. The mission has also received support from China, Russia, and the Arab League, with Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia. The mission has worked closely with the Somali National Army and the Somali Police Force to provide security and stability in the country, and has received support from AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries, such as Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia, with Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, and Pierre Nkurunziza, the former President of Burundi, playing key roles in the mission's establishment and operation.

History

The African Union Mission in Somalia was established in 2007, following the Battle of Mogadishu (2006), which saw the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) take control of the city, and the subsequent War in Somalia (2006-2009), which saw the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the Ethiopian National Defense Force launch a counterattack against the ICU, with support from the United States Africa Command and the Central Intelligence Agency. The mission was initially composed of troops from Uganda and Burundi, with Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, and Pierre Nkurunziza, the former President of Burundi, playing key roles in the mission's establishment and operation. The mission has since been expanded to include troops from Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia, with Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, the President of Djibouti, and Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia. The mission has also received support from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), with Michael Keating, the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, and James Swan, the current Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, playing key roles in the mission's establishment and operation.

Mandate_and_Operations

The African Union Mission in Somalia has a mandate to support the Federal Government of Somalia and protect its citizens from al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Boko Haram. The mission has been involved in several operations, including the Battle of Mogadishu (2010-2011), the Battle of Kismayo (2012), and the Battle of El Adde (2016), with al-Shabaab launching a series of attacks against the mission, including the Westgate shopping mall attack and the Garissa University College attack. The mission has also been involved in providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia, with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and David Beasley, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia. The mission has worked closely with the Somali National Army and the Somali Police Force to provide security and stability in the country, and has received support from AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries, such as Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia, with Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, and Pierre Nkurunziza, the former President of Burundi, playing key roles in the mission's establishment and operation.

Contributing_Countries

The African Union Mission in Somalia has received contributions from several countries, including Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia, with Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, and Pierre Nkurunziza, the former President of Burundi, playing key roles in the mission's establishment and operation. The mission has also received support from the United States Department of State, the European Union, and the United Nations Security Council, with António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, and Jean-Claude Juncker, the former President of the European Commission, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia. The mission has worked closely with the Somali National Army and the Somali Police Force to provide security and stability in the country, and has received support from AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries, with Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, the President of Djibouti, and Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia. The mission has also received support from China, Russia, and the Arab League, with Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia.

Structure_and_Leadership

The African Union Mission in Somalia is led by a Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC), who is responsible for the overall direction and management of the mission, with support from the African Union Commission and the United Nations Security Council. The mission is composed of several components, including a military component, a police component, and a civilian component, with the military component being led by a Force Commander, and the police component being led by a Police Commissioner. The mission has also established a number of Sector Commands, which are responsible for the security and stability of specific regions of Somalia, with support from the Somali National Army and the Somali Police Force. The mission has worked closely with the Federal Government of Somalia to provide security and stability in the country, and has received support from AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries, such as Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia, with Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, and Pierre Nkurunziza, the former President of Burundi, playing key roles in the mission's establishment and operation.

Impact_and_Criticisms

The African Union Mission in Somalia has had a significant impact on the security and stability of Somalia, with the mission playing a key role in the defeat of al-Shabaab and the establishment of a stable government, with support from the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and the United States Department of State. The mission has also provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia, with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and David Beasley, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia. However, the mission has also faced criticism for its handling of human rights issues, with some critics accusing the mission of failing to protect civilians and of committing human rights abuses, with support from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, with Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, and Kumi Naidoo, the former Secretary General of Amnesty International, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia. The mission has also faced challenges in terms of funding and resources, with some critics arguing that the mission is underfunded and understaffed, with support from the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and the United States Department of State, with António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, and Jean-Claude Juncker, the former President of the European Commission, visiting Mogadishu to discuss the mission's progress, and meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, the President of Somalia, and Hassan Ali Khaire, the former Prime Minister of Somalia.