The African Union has proposed a one-year extension for its military force in Somalia (AMISOM). The AU Peace and Security Council maintains that it is important that the troops remain in Somalia for at least another year to safeguard the gains that have been made especially in recent months.
Peace and Security Council Commissioner Smail Chergui said that it is crucial to guard fiercely the hard-worn achievements in Somalia. Many Somalis, AMISOM, and other bilateral partners have sacrificed their lives in the quest to make Somalis enjoy the peace which has been robbed from them over the last 30 years.
The sentiments were expressed mainly because the council feels that while Somalia has made strides towards stability in the past years, the country is yet to develop sustainable capability, especially in the security sector to be able to adequately protect its sovereignty especially from the al Shabaab.
The UN Security Council is expected to deliberate the fate of AMISOM stay this month with a possible extension. The Council has set 2021 as a timeline for significant troops withdrawal from Somalia to allow Somali Security Forces to take charge after over 10 years stay.
