AU officials attend summit on the future of AMISOM post 2021

The AMISOM mission ends in December 2021, and the African Union is working to expand the mission's capacity and increase its troop numbers to continue operations until 2026.

News Keydmedia Online
9 November 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's minister of foreign affairs Mohamed Abdirizak has hosted a meeting in Mogadishu on Tuesday morning to discuss the future of AMISOM post-2021.

The AU Peace and Security Council (AU – PSC) delegation which arrived in the capital on Monday for a 3-day visit attended the summit which comes amid a dispute over AMISOM exit. 

The delegation which is made up of ambassadors from the 15 member states of the AU-PSC is led by Egypt’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union Dr. Mohamed Omar Gad.

Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble received ambassadors at his office. Somali government rejects ongoing plan to transform the AMISOM into an AU-UN hybrid force.

AMISOM mandate ends in Dec 2021, and the African Union and the Somali government are in deadlock over the transition plan. The country wants to take over its security responsibility.

The talks also dominated improving cooperation between the African Union and the Federal Government of Somalia. AMISOM has been in the country for 14 years battling Al-Shabaab.

The AU troops helped the government regain control of key areas, including Mogadishu from Al-Shabaab but failed to prepare a national army that can take in charge of the security. 

KEYDMEDIA Engish