U.N. security council extends African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia for another year

The Security Council yesterday extended for another year the mandate of the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, as it continues to consider a revised United Nations presence there, and partially lifted the 20-year-old arms embargo imposed on the country.

Created and operated by the African Union in January 2007, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) received a UN mandate from the Security Council the following month, and has been renewed ever since. It is mandated to conduct peace support operations in Somalia, which has been affected by conflict for more than two decades but which has recently made some significant political gains.

In yesterday’s resolution, the Council also partially lifted the weapons ban for one year to boost the Government’s capacity to protect areas recovered from the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabaab and defend against fresh attempts by such groups to destabilize the country.

The arms embargo, originally imposed in 1992, would not apply to arms or equipment sold or supplied solely for the development of the Somalia government’s security forces, but it kept its restrictions in place on heavy weapons, such as surface-to-air missiles.

In addition, Somalia would be required to notify the Council’s sanctions committee at least five days in advance of any such deliveries and provide details of the transactions. Alternately, Member States delivering assistance may make the notification after informing the Government of its intentions in that regard.

Discussions are under way on a revised African Union and UN presence in Somalia to support recent political gains and to address the urgent ongoing humanitarian and human rights situations. The new mission would include good offices, advice and assistance on security, peacekeeping and state-building, the preparation of elections, human rights and the rule of law, and assistance for the coordination of international assistance.

Source: UN News Center