Event
- July 30, 2015, AMISOM issue a press release and posted on AMISOM Daily Media Monitoring stating that 15-nations council also re-authorized the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until May 30, 2016.
- Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Burundi have been in the fore front on the fight against the Somali based Al Shabaab militant under AMISOM umbrella.
- Kenya sent it military troops into Somalia in 2011 to fight Al Shabaab and protect Somalia’s weak transitional government.
- The UN resolution came following an attack by Al Shabaab militants on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia on Sunday of 26th July 2015.
- AMISOM has resumed military offensives against Al Shabaab in the operation named ‘Operation Jubba Corridor’ aimed at eliminating insurgents in the few rural areas it still occupies.
Analysis
Extension of AMISOM mandate in Somalia is of significant importance. Somalia peace and stability is far from being achieved and incase African Mission in Somalia pulls out, the Al Shabaab insurgents will thrive back.
AMISOM forces continue to make significant gains inside Somalia. The forces have recently battled out Al Shabaab militants capturing Bardheere in Gedo region. Forces in the southern Somali region have also been able to recapture Dinsoor after seven years of Al Shabaab reign.
On Sunday 26th, July 2015, Al Shabaab attacked Jazeera Palace Hotel in Mogadishu. The hotel which is a prone target of the militants shelters diplomatic missions of China, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The UN resolution to extend AMISOM mission came following the attack by Al Shabaab militants on Jazeera Palace hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia on Sunday where more than 10 people died, including one member of security staff from the Chinese Embassy.
Forecast
UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until March 30, 2016 to support peace, stability and the political process in the country.
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta maintained his stand that Kenya Defence Forces to stay in Somalia resisting the opposition call to withdraw.
Though the Al Shabaab are fighting back in Somalia, joint forces have been able to conduct successful operations, killing dozens and destroying many operational bases. More action to be stepped up before the militants who have defragmented into small cells re-emerges.
U.S. promised cooperation and intelligence sharing with Kenya, a move that will significantly help stabilize Somalia and Kenya’s security environment in the short term as well as lay ground for the implementation of lasting security policies that would ensure that Kenya vitiates domestic terrorist activities besides stifling transnational terrorism within the region.
