African Union Mission in Somalia

African Union Mission in Somalia
JRC, European Commission · CC BY 4.0 · source
Conflict	African Union Mission in Somalia
Part of	War in Somalia (2009–present)
Date	2007 – present
Place	Somalia
Status	Ongoing

African Union Mission in Somalia is a peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union in Somalia with the purpose of supporting the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali National Army in their fight against Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. The mission is supported by the United Nations Security Council through United Nations Security Council Resolution 2093 and has received funding from the European Union and United States. The mission has been led by commanders such as Francisco Caetano Madeira and has worked closely with organizations like the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

● Introduction

The African Union Mission in Somalia was established in 2007 with the aim of stabilizing Somalia and supporting the Transitional Federal Government in its efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab and other insurgent groups. The mission has been supported by African Union member states such as Uganda, Burundi, and Djibouti, which have contributed troops to the mission. The mission has also worked closely with international organizations like the United Nations Development Programme and World Food Programme to provide humanitarian assistance to Somali civilians. The mission's efforts have been recognized by leaders such as Ban Ki-moon and Hailemariam Desalegn, who have praised the mission's contributions to regional peace and security.

● History

The African Union Mission in Somalia was established in 2007, following a request from the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia for assistance in stabilizing the country. The mission was initially led by Uganda and Burundi, which contributed the first troops to the mission. The mission has since been joined by other African Union member states, including Djibouti, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. The mission has been involved in several key battles, including the Battle of Mogadishu (2010–2011), the Battle of Kismayo (2012), and the Battle of El Adde. The mission has also worked closely with international partners like the United States Africa Command and European Union Naval Force Somalia to disrupt piracy and terrorism in the region.

● Mandate

The mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia is to support the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali National Army in their efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. The mission is also mandated to provide support to the Somali government in its efforts to stabilize the country and provide humanitarian assistance to Somali civilians. The mission's mandate has been extended several times by the United Nations Security Council, most recently through United Nations Security Council Resolution 2472. The mission has also been supported by regional organizations like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and East African Community, which have provided funding and logistical support to the mission.

● Operations

The African Union Mission in Somalia has been involved in several key operations, including the Operation Indian Ocean and Operation Jubba Corridor. The mission has also worked closely with the Somali National Army to provide training and support to Somali forces. The mission has been supported by international partners like the United States Department of State and United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, which have provided funding and logistical support to the mission. The mission has also worked closely with organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide humanitarian assistance to Somali civilians.

● Impact

The African Union Mission in Somalia has had a significant impact on the security situation in Somalia. The mission has helped to defeat Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups, and has provided support to the Somali government in its efforts to stabilize the country. The mission has also provided humanitarian assistance to Somali civilians, including food, shelter, and medical care. The mission's efforts have been recognized by leaders such as António Guterres and Moussa Faki, who have praised the mission's contributions to regional peace and security. The mission has also worked closely with organizations like the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund to provide humanitarian assistance to Somali civilians.

● Controversies

The African Union Mission in Somalia has been involved in several controversies, including allegations of human rights abuses and corruption. The mission has been criticized by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which have accused the mission of failing to protect Somali civilians and of committing human rights abuses. The mission has also been criticized for its handling of sexual exploitation and abuse allegations, and for its failure to provide adequate support to Somali forces. The mission's efforts have been recognized by leaders such as Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Ibrahim Gambari, who have praised the mission's contributions to regional peace and security, but have also called for greater accountability and transparency within the mission. The mission has also worked closely with organizations like the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to address these concerns and improve its performance. Category:African Union