PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
1205TH MEETING
26 MARCH 2024 AND 3 APRIL 2024
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
PSC/PR/COMM.1205 (2024)
COMMUNIQUE
Adopted by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union at its 1205th meeting held on 26 March 2024 and finalized on 03 April 2024 on the Briefing by the Federal Republic of Somalia on its Proposal for a Post-ATMIS Security Arrangement in Somalia, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2710 (2023).
The Peace and Security Council,
Recalling all its previous decisions and pronouncements on the situation in Somalia and on ATMIS, particularly Communiques [PSC/PR/COMM.1177 (2023)], adopted at its 1177th meeting held on 30 September 2023 on the request by the Federal Government of Somalia for a three months technical pause of Phase 2 drawdown of 3000 ATMIS troops; [PSC/PR/COMM.1173 (2023)] adopted at its 1173rd meeting, held on 14 September 2023 on the situation in Somalia and the Operations of ATMIS and [PSC/PR/COMM.1068 (2022)], adopted at its 1068th meeting held on 08 March 2022 on the reconfiguration of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) into AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS); and also recalling UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 (2022) which authorized the reconfiguration of AMISOM into ATMIS and Resolution 2710 (2023) which authorized the AU Member States to deploy up to 17626 uniformed personnel to ATMIS till 31 December 2023;
Reaffirming the AU’s solidarity with the people and the Federal Government of Somalia in their aspirations for durable peace, security, stability, and prosperity, which will benefit the Horn of Africa region and the Continent as a whole;
Noting the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Emilia Ndinelao Mkusa, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the AU and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) for March 2024, and also the opening remarks by Her Excellency Jainaba Jagne, Permanent Representative of The Gambia and PSC Standing-In Chairperson for April 2024, as well as the introductory statement by the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye; and the statement by H.E. Ambassador Abdullahi Warfa, the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the AU; and
Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:
1. Welcomes the Proposal by the Federal Government of Somalia for a Post-ATMIS Security Arrangement in Somalia; and takes note of the request by Somalia for an AU-led, United Nations authorized peace support operation to replace ATMIS from 1 January 2025;
2. Underlines the importance of preserving the gains registered thus far and the current momentum in the fight against Al-Shabaab; and in this regard, reiterates the need to continue supporting the FGS by providing capacity building to the Somali Security Forces, to accelerate its force generation and integration efforts to ensure effective assumption of security responsibilities after the full drawdown of ATMIS to avoid the creation of a security vacuum in Somalia, post-ATMIS;
3. Requests the AU Commission to undertake a comprehensive and detailed planning based on the situation on the ground, including undertaking threat assessments, in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia, the ATMIS Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), and the UN, and report back to Council by the end of April 2024;
4. Reiterates its deep concern over the ATMIS funding gap, and stresses the need for adequate, sustainable and predictable funding for the ATMIS Mission and also stresses the need to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable financing to the post-ATMIS Mission arrangement, including through UN Resolution 2719 (2023);
5. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
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