Communiqué of the 521st meeting of the Peace and Security Council on the Joint AU – UN Mission in Somalia

AFRICAN UNION

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PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 521^st MEETING

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 30 JUNE 2015

PSC/PR/COMM.(DXXI)

COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 521^st meeting held on 30 June 2015, adopted the following decision on the Joint AU - United Nations (UN) Mission to review the benchmarks for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and assess the operations of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM):

Council,

1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the Joint AU-UN to review the benchmarks for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and assess AMISOM operations [PSC/PR/2.(DXXI)], as well as of the statement made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security and the briefing given by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for Somalia and Head of AMISOM. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representative of Ethiopia, on behalf of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the representatives of the European Union (EU), the League of Arab States and the UN, France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as members of the UN Security Council, and Italy as co-Chair of the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF);

2. Welcomes the significant progress made in Somalia, both on the political and security fronts. In particular, Council notes with satisfaction the gains made on the ground thanks to the efforts of AMISOM and the Somali National Army (SNA). Council pays tribute to the AMISOM and the SNA personnel for their commitment and courage;

3. Stresses the need for continued efforts by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the other Somali stakeholders to further reconciliation, and encourages them to intensify these efforts in order to facilitate the successful completion of the political process, notably with respect to federalism and the formation of regional states, the constitutional referendum and the elections planned for 2016;

4. Notes with deep concern that, in spite of the progress made on the ground, Al Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat, both in Somalia and in the rest of the region, and to carry out attacks against the FGS and its security forces, AMISOM, the UN and civilians, with a view to spreading terror and disrupting the political process;

5. Strongly condemns the terrorist attacks recently perpetrated by Al Shabaab against AMISOM personnel, including against Ethiopian and Burundian soldiers on 11 and 26 June 2015, respectively, in Jameco, in the Bay region, and in Leego, Lower Shabelle, as well as the targeted assassinations of Somali officials and politicians and civilians. Council expresses its solidarity with the Government and people of Somalia, as well as its deep appreciation to the troop and police contributing countries (TCCs/PCCs) to AMISOM for their commitment and the sacrifices made;

6. Reiterates the AU's deep appreciation to the UN, the EU and its Member States, the United States of America and the international community as a whole, for their support to AMISOM, as well as for their commitment towards the promotion of peace, security and reconciliation in Somalia;

7. Stresses the need for continued efforts to further degrade the capabilities of Al Shabaab and, in this regard, looks forward to the convening of the 2^nd meeting of the Heads of Intelligence and Security Services of the member countries of the East African Community (EAC) and of IGAD, scheduled to take place in Kampala, Uganda, from 14 to 15 July 2015, as part of the Djibouti Process on the Enhancement of Security Cooperation in East Africa, which, among other issues, will discuss ways and means of enhancing security cooperation in the fight against Al Shabaab;

8. Recalls resolution 2124(2013) adopted by the UN Security Council on 12 November 2013, authorizing the AU to increase AMISOM's strength to a maximum of 22,126 uniformed personnel and requesting the UN Secretary-General to keep the situation in Somalia under continuous review, including progress being made against the benchmarks for the potential deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and the handover of security responsibilities to the national authorities;

9. Further recalls communique PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXII).Rev.l adopted at its 462^nd meeting held on 16 October 2014, requesting the Commission to undertake, in close coordination with the UN Secretariat, a joint review of AMISOM, especially the implementation of the Mission's Concept of Operations (CONOPS), with a view to enhancing the planning and effectiveness of the joint SNA and AMISOM operations, as well as UN Security Council resolution 2182 (2014) adopted on 24 October 2014, requesting the Secretary-General to jointly review with the AU the impact of the temporary surge in AMISOM's strength authorized by resolution 2124 (2013) and to set out recommendations on the next steps in AMISOM operations by 30 May 2015, taking into due consideration the political situation in Somalia;

10. Commends the AU and the UN for conducting a Joint Mission to Somalia, from 14 to 25 April 2015, to review the benchmarks for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and assess AMISOM, and underlines that this exercise is a further illustration of the close partnership between the AU and the UN, and offers useful lessons that could be applied in other situations of common interest;

11. Takes note of the findings of the Mission, in particular with respect to the continuing threat posed by Al Shabaab both to Somalia and to the rest of the region, and that, consequently, the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation at present would continue to be a high-risk option;

12. Endorses the recommendations made by the Joint Mission in order for AMISOM to implement, over the next 18 months, a security strategy aimed at creating a more conducive environment for the pursuit of the political process, in particular:

1. the extension of the surge in AMISOM strength and of the non-lethal support package for the SNA until the end of 2016, as authorized by Security Council resolution 2124 (2013);

2. the gradual, structured and targeted reconfiguration, within the authorized ceiling, of AMISOM uniformed personnel, including: (a) the enhancement of the AMISOM police component, (b) the deployment of requisite capabilities

such as quick reaction and special forces, to enable AMISOM to become more agile and to facilitate cross-sectoral operations, and (c) the streamlining of AMISOM command and control under the overall direction of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission and Head of Mission;

3. the provision of a more effective and flexible logistical support through the enhancement of the UN Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA), in order to address the gaps identified in the provision of logistical support to frontline AMISOM and SNA troops; and

4. the extension to the Puntland forces of the non-lethal support provided by UNSOA to the SNA;

13. Requests the Commission, working closely with the FGS, the TCCs/PCCs, the UN and other relevant international partners, to revise the AMISOM CONOPS, in order to take into account the findings and recommendations of the Joint Mission;

14. Urges the UN Security Council to consider, as early as possible, the report of the Joint Mission and to endorse its recommendations, in order to pave the way for their speedy and effective implementation;

15. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to take all necessary steps to effectively follow up on the relevant provisions of this communique, including by transmitting it to the UN Secretary-General and, through him, to the Security Council, as well as to other AU partners;

16. Calls on the international community to provide enhanced support to the FGS and its institutions, in order to consolidate the gains made and facilitate the completion of the political process. In this regard, Council looks forward to the holding of the High Level Partnership Forum, in Mogadishu, from 29 to 30 July 2015;

17. Also calls on the international community to extend the necessary humanitarian assistance to the needy populations in Somalia, bearing in mind that the Humanitarian Appeal for 2015 is insufficiently funded;

18. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.