AU sends diplomat to Somalia as mission’s mandate ends in March

African Union said it is committed to ensuring a stable and secure Somalia as AMISOM’s mandate ends on 31st March 2022 as the country is in the middle of a crisis and holding a crucial parliamentary election.

News Keydmedia Online
7 February 2022

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The AU is sending a top South African diplomat to serve as deputy envoy for Somalia three months after the Horn of African country declared Simon Mulongo persona non grata.

In a statement published on its official website, the African Union Commission has announced the appointment of Fiona Lortan to play an important role in the transition phase of the AMISOM.

African Union said it is committed to ensuring a stable and secure Somalia as AMISOM’s mandate ends on 31st March 2022 as the country is in the middle of a crisis and holding a crucial parliamentary election.

Lortan has recently been the Acting Director for Conflict Management in the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department (PAPS) and worked assiduously on AMISOM – the AU mission in Somalia.

I would like to thank Ms. Fiona Lortan, for accepting the role as Deputy SRCC during this interim period. Among many other tasks, she will work to help the African Union to deliver on all that is required to end AMISOM and follow through on ongoing preparations for the mandate, composition, size, and structure of a proposed new mission in Somalia," said Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye.

The appointment of Lortan came after the Federal Government has kicked Simon Mulongo, an Uganda diplomat out of the country within 7 days in November 2021. He was serving as AU’s deputy envoy.

The ministry of foreign affairs has accused Mulongo of meddling with AMISOM’s exit plan and Somalia’s security strategy. He was also accused of misbehaver and activities out of his mandate at Halane base camp in Mogadishu.

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