PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
1225TH MEETING
ADDIS ABABA
1 AUGUST 2024
PSC/PR/COMM.1225(2024)
COMMUNIQUÉ’
Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1225th meeting held on 1 August 2024 on Consideration of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the AU-Led Mission in Somalia Post-ATMIS.
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.1217(2024)], adopted at its meeting held on 20 June 2024 on the Report of the African Union Commission on the Joint Strategic Assessment for the Post-ATMIS Security Arrangement for an AU-Led Mission in Somalia; [PSC/PR/COMM.1205 (2024)], adopted at its 1205th meeting held on 3 April 2024 on the Federal Government of Somalia’s Plan for a Post-ATMIS AU Mission in Somalia; [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);
Also recalling UN Security Council Resolution 2628(2022), which authorized the reconfiguration of AMISOM into ATMIS, Resolution 2710(2023), which authorized the AU Member States to deploy up to 17626 uniformed personnel to ATMIS till 31 December 2023; and Resolution 2741(2024) which calls for finalisation of the overall design of the follow-on mission to ATMIS; its implications for the UN; and provide insight on the estimated resources required for the mission and costs thereof;
Reaffirming the AU solidarity with the people and the Federal Government of Somalia in their aspirations for durable peace, security, stability, and prosperity;
Reiterating the AU’s respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia;
Taking note of the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Tebelelo Alfred Boang, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Botswana to the AU and PSC Chairperson for August 2024; and the introductory statement and presentation on the Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for the AU-Led Mission in Somalia Post-ATMIS by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; as well as the statements by H.E. Ambassador Abdullahi Warfa, the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the AU, and by the Representative of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD); and
Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council,
1. Takes note of the significant progress achieved in Somalia, especially in security and the political gains made since the AU deployment in 2007;
2. Expresses grave concern over the continued threat posed by Al Shabaab to peace and security in Somalia and the region and condemns the recent attacks against Somali security forces and ATMIS forces in lower Shabele;
3. Commends the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia, AMISOM and ATMIS Troop/Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) for their continued commitment and sacrifices; pays tribute for the lives lost since 2007, expresses condolences to the families of all those who have paid the ultimate price in Somalia and wishes speedy recovery to all injured AU personnel;
4. Adopts the Strategic Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) submitted by the Commission following extensive consultations with ATMIS, the FGS, the UN and international partners as stipulated in PSC Communique 1217 of 20 June 2024; and endorses the formation of the new Mission to be known as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM);
5. Acknowledges the enhanced partnership between the AU, the FGS and key international partners to facilitate effective and efficient execution of the mandate of the newly established AUSSOM;
6. Expresses appreciation to the UN and all international partners for their unwavering commitment and efforts to promoting peace and stability in Somalia and for their invaluable contributions during consultations for the finalization of the CONOPs for the AU-Led Mission in Somalia Post-ATMIS;
7. Reaffirms the continuing commitment of the AU to ensure that AUSSOM undertakes its mandates in compliance with the African Union Strategic Framework for Compliance and Accountability, incorporating compliance with regional and international human rights law; international humanitarian law and all other relevant African Union policies, guidelines and mechanisms;
8. Underscores the need for an assessment of the impact and implications of the Phase 3 drawdown of ATMIS in order to avoid any security vacuum during the transition phase to the AUSSOM; and, in this regard, reiterates its request to the AU Commission to undertake consultations, in collaboration with the Troop/Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCS), FGS, and UN and report back to Council by the end of September 2024, on this matter; in this respect, encourages the Federal Government of Somalia and ATMIS T/PCCs to work together towards ensuring a smooth transition from ATMIS to the new Mission;
9. Underscores the imperative for scaling up assistance to the Federal Government of Somalia in the mobilization of resources for stabilization and state-building priorities, as well as the need to ensure a smooth and orderly transfer of security responsibilities to Somali security forces; further reaffirms the imperative for enhanced capacitation and empowerment of the Somalia security forces and encourages the Federal Government of Somalia to expedite the force generation and integration process;
10. Stresses the importance of predictable, sustainable, and adequate funding for the AUSSOM, and in this regard, underscores the need for a dedicated funding mechanism through UN-assessed contributions in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023), in order to avoid the perennial financial challenges faced by previous Missions;
11. Requests the AU Commission to continue extensive engagements with the UN, European Union and all strategic partners to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable funding and other forms of support, to fill the financial gaps, for the AUSSOM and to report back to Council by September 2024 on potential additional sources of funding;
12. Underlines the importance of ensuring credible force protection and survivability for the AUSSOM, including in terms of enhanced intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capacities, force enablers and force multipliers, in order to avoid the challenges of the past AU missions in Somalia;
13. Welcomes the offer made by Egypt and Djibouti to contribute to the elements of the AUSSOM and encourages other AU Member States in a position to do so, to contribute to AUSSOM; further, takes note of the indicated readiness by the Republic of Djibouti to deploy its Formed Police Unit (FPU) to ATMIS, as soon as possible;
14. Underlines the need for the Troop/Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) for the AUSSOM to respect the principles for the Mission as stipulated in the CONOPs;
15. Emphasizes the importance of enhanced coordination between the AUSSOM with the Federal Government of Somalia, T/PCCs, IGAD, the UN, and all other strategic partners; as well as the importance of establishing clear lines of communication, joint planning process, and regular information-sharing mechanisms;
16. Underscores the need for the AUSSOM to mainstream post-conflict reconstruction and development, as well as peacebuilding components and, in this regard, stresses the critical role of the AU PCRD Centre in efforts to rebuild the institutional capacities of the Federal Government of Somalia;
17. Requests the AU Commission to expedite the finalisation of the lessons learned and best practices from AMISOM and ATMIS and report back to Council by December 2024;
18. Requests the AU Commission to transmit the CONOPs and the present Communique to the President of the UN Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations for onward transmission to the UN Security Council for consideration and authorization of the mandate of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia; and
19. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
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