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African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia

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African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia
Hawlgalka Taageerada iyo Xasilinta Midowga Afrika ee Soomaaliya
Dates of operation1 January 2025-present
Allies Somalia
Opponents Al-Shabaab
Battles and warsSomali Civil War
Preceded by
ATMIS

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) will serve as the African Union's new peacekeeping and stabilization operation in Somalia.[1] Succeeding the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), The mission is expected to start in 2025, that may include troops from the East African Nations of Egypt, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Kenya, and Burundi.

Overview

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The African Union's Peace and Security Council approved the creation of AUSSOM on 1st August, 2024,[2][3] with plans to start the mission in 2025,[4] after ATMIS’ withdrawal on 31 December, 2024.[5][6] Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has actively sought to rally support from former ATMIS contributors, encouraging them to participate in AUSSOM.[7]

Responses

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 Egypt has offered to send 10,000 troops to Somalia,[8] 5,000 for AUSSOM and another 5,000 that will work independently.[9] this is following a security deal with Somalia from August 2024. Somalia has accepted this offer.[10]

 Ethiopia, while being rejected by Somalia due to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the unrecognized state of Somaliland, has still been hoping to be part of the new mission,[11] With Ethiopia’s defense minister Aisha Mohammed saying that her country is more than willing to continue to assist Somalia to stabilize.[12] Despite the efforts, Somalia has still denied Ethiopian support, with their Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that Ethiopia’s presence has only increased Al-Shabaab activity and that little to no development was made.[13][14]And if Somalia still denies Ethiopia’s involvement by the end of 2024, Ethiopia’s troops could get removed or replaced entirely.[15]

 Djibouti has also offered to send peacekeeping troops to AUSSOM,[16]This was welcomed by Somalia.[17]

 Uganda’s foreign minister Henry Oryem Okello has opposed Egypt’s troop deployment, saying that they might dominate AUSSOM.[18]After that, Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud went to Uganda to speak with Ugandan president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to persuade Uganda into supporting Egypt’s help in the mission.[19]

 Kenya’s president William Ruto met with Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss AUSSOM, that ended with Kenya endorsing the new mission.[20][21]

 Burundi, another former ATMIS contributor, has also seen a visit from the Somali president, that ended with the country’s president Évariste Ndayishimiye welcoming the mission.[22]

 The United Kingdom summited a draft resolution to the United Nations, welcoming the AU’s decision to create AUSSOM.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "AU Launches New Somalia Mission Amid Rising Rivalry and Funding Challenges". hornobserver.com. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  2. ^ "AU Launches New Somalia Mission Amid Rising Rivalry and Funding Challenges". hornobserver.com. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  3. ^ "African Union to Launch New Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  4. ^ "New AU-Led Mission, AUSSOM, to Replace ATMIS in Somalia Starting January 2025 - Mustaqbal Media". Mustaqbal Media - (English). 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  5. ^ Sheikh, Abdi (2024-06-20). "Exclusive: Somalia asks peacekeepers to slow withdrawal, fears Islamist resurgence". Reuters.
  6. ^ NAMWANJE, SALMAH (2024-10-07). "AUSSOM to replace ATMIS in Somalia as AU Peacekeeping Mission Transitions into 2025".
  7. ^ The, News Desk (2024-10-24). "HSM's Regional Push For AUSSOM Faces Opposition | Saxafi Media". Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  8. ^ "Egypt Deploys Military to Somalia in Strategic Move Amid Horn of Africa Tensions". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  9. ^ "Ethiopia rattled as Egypt delivers military aid to Somalia". The EastAfrican. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  10. ^ ABC News, A. B. C. "Somalia says it welcomes Egypt's offer to deploy peacekeepers there". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  11. ^ "Ethiopia to Keep Troops in Somalia for AU Mission Despite Sea Access Dispute". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  12. ^ "We must be consulted in formation of AUSSOM, Ethiopia insists". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  13. ^ "Somalia blames Ethiopia for resurgence of Al-Shabaab amid strained relations". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  14. ^ "Somalia's Stance on Sovereignty and Ethiopia's Role in the African Union Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM) – MFA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation". Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  15. ^ "Somalia: Ethiopian troops cannot be in AUSSOM, unless Somaliland deal nixed". Voice of America. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  16. ^ "Somali, Djibouti Leaders Pledge Stronger Cooperation Ahead of ATMIS-AUSSOM Transition - Best news channels in Mogadishu | Best news channels in Somalia | News channels in Mogadishu". Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  17. ^ "African Union to Launch New Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  18. ^ "Uganda Opposes Egypt's Troop Deployment to Somalia". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  19. ^ Somali Guardian News, Somaliguardian (2024-10-19). "Somalia's president visits Uganda as ATMIS exit draws near | Somali Guardian". Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  20. ^ PURITY, WANGECHI (2024-10-23). "Kenya, Somalia Endorse New AUSSOM Mission Set to Begin in 2025". Capital News. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  21. ^ "Kenya, Somalia endorse new AU Stabilisation Mission". The Star. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  22. ^ PCN (2024-10-21). "Bujumbura: Somali President touring troop-contributing countries a few months before the establishment of AUSSOM". SOS Médias Burundi. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  23. ^ https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/242/91/pdf/n2424291.pdf
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