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Addis Ababa February 28/2013 The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) at its 356th meeting held here on Wednesday adopted a decision on the Strategic Review of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), a press release AU posted on its website said.
The Council endorsed the recommendation to enhance AMISOM which requires the Mission to maintain a robust posture in order to facilitate the recovery of the areas that are still under the control of Al Shabaab.
The Mission also requires to establish special training teams to enhance the capacity of Somalia’s National Defense and Public Safety Institutions and enhance its civilian capacity to support the FGS efforts to restore effective governance, promote reconciliation, human rights and rule of law, and ensure service delivery in the recovered areas.
Council decided that AMISOM shall be mandated to take all necessary measures, as appropriate, and in coordination with the Somalia National Defense and Public Safety Institutions, to reduce the threat posed by Al Shabaab and other armed opposition groups.
It said the Mission shall also be mandated to assist in consolidating and expanding the control of the FGS over its national territory and assist the FGS in establishing conditions for effective and legitimate governance across Somalia.
It also shall entitled to provide technical and other support for the enhancement of the capacity of the Somalia State institutions, particularly the National Defense, Public Safety and Public Service Institutions and support the FGS in establishing the required institutions and conducive conditions for the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections by 2016, in accordance with the Provisional Constitution.
It shall mandated to liaise with humanitarian actors and facilitate humanitarian assistance in Somalia, the resettlement of internally displaced persons and the return of refugees, facilitate coordinated support by relevant AU institutions and structures towards the stabilization and reconstruction of Somalia, and provide protection to AU and UN personnel, installations and equipment, including the right of self-defense.
Council called upon the UN Security Council to authorize the enhancement of the support package to AMISOM, to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively.
It also called upon the Council to ensure that the configuration of the envisaged UN Mission in Somalia does not, in any way, impede or constrain the capacity and flexibility of UNSOA to provide unfettered support to AMISOM in accordance with its mandate as outlined above, particularly in the conduct of peace enforcement operations.
Council stressed the need for effective and coordinated efforts to secure Somalia’s coastline to deprive Al Shabaab of means and resources to carry out its terrorist activities.
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