Last chance: UN extends AMISOM’s mission in Somalia

Ahmed Adel

The United Nations Security Council has decided to extend the presence of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until December 31.

The move offers a ray of hope for Somalis amid a political crisis in their country induced by the failure of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, whose presidential term came to an end last month, to hold elections.

Last chance

The resolution of the Security Council on AMISOM is a last chance for Somalia. It encourages the Somali government to hold elections without delay.

It was made following tense negotiations since February. Extending the mission of AMISOM was one of the controversial issues among the members of the Security Council on the resolution.

Niger issued a statement in the name of African states in the council, in which it criticized the way the UK drafted and conducted negotiations over the resolution.

The UK, the representative of Niger said, overlooked the views of the African group on the resolution.

He added that some of the proposals of the African group were turned down, even without mentioning reasons for this rejection.

The final draft of the resolution does not reflect the views of African countries, the representative of Niger said.

He called for changing the negotiation mechanism inside the Security Council to allow some countries to participate in the formulation of the resolutions.

Most of the resolutions, he said, are drafted by former colonizers who are permanent members of the Security Council.

The latest resolution on Somalia allows AMISOM to deploy 19,626 troops until December 31. The mission will then pass on responsibility for security across Somalia to the country’s security forces.