The United Nations Security Council has extended its support for AMISOM for two more months until July 31st. The Council has backed the Mission, calling on UN Secretary-General to continue providing logistical support for AMISOM and its partners in the mission.
The increased support has been approved pending a report expected on June 15 that will inform the decision of the council on whether to downsize the number of AMISOM troops in Somalia.
Michael Keating, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, said AMISOM “continues to play an indispensable role, at great human cost, in protecting population centers, main supply routes, and Somalia’s overall political progress.”
Further, Keating said that successful security transition will require deep reform of the Somalia security forces together transformation of AMISOM,” adding that this could entail “more flexible joint operations and combat mentoring, greater emphasis on policing, adequate enablers and force multipliers or stronger accountability systems, whether for assets or relating to human rights.”
There are plans for a full withdrawal of AMISOM troops from Somalia by December 2020
