Mogadishu, 30 November 2023 – The Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, has touted the AU peacekeeping mission as a model for future UN peace operations citing the multilateral collaboration demonstrated by the United Nations and international partners to advance peace and security in Somalia.
Amb. Souef made the remarks on Wednesday when he met a delegation of representatives from the UN Headquarters in New York who were in Somalia for a two-day assessment visit. ATMIS Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding and the Police Commissioner,Hillary Sao Kanu also attended the meeting.
“The Secretary-General is advocating for supporting regional organisations when it comes to conducting peace operations. I think ATMIS could be a model because what has been done so far with UNSOS, UNSOM can be replicated in many other countries and regions,” said Amb. Souef.
Pointing out the recent requests by Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali to close UN Missions operating in the respective countries, Amb.Souef urged for a change in approach to engagement by the global body.
The Head of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), Assistant Secretary-General Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, hailed the close collaboration between ATMIS, the UN logistical support body and the Federal Government of Somalia in fostering peace and driving the Somalia transition process.
“I hope C-34 as member states, we just reflect on what it has taken the African Union and the support of the United Nations to get us where we were in 2007 to where we are now? And what can we do not to lose the gains made and ensure that as we exit, Somalia will remain stable and progress,” she posed.
The delegation from the working group of the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34), is a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee and reviews peacekeeping operations around the world.
Led by the Canadian Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Richard Arbeiter, the delegation was in Somalia to review the logistical support provided by UNSOS to ATMIS and the Somali Security Forces.
The team also aimed to understand partnerships with stakeholders, challenges impacting implementation of their mandates and how peacekeeping can evolve to better serve communities.
The visiting UN delegation also held separate meetings with officials from Somalia’s federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence,the Somali National Army, and Somali Police Force. They also inspected UNSOS facilities set up to support ATMIS such as provision of safe water, casualty evacuation and the treatment of troops injured in combat.
