UN Security Council will hold an open briefing followed by closed consultations about the security and political situation in Somalia on Monday.
James Swan, the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of UNSOM, and Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson for Somalia and Head of ATMIS. Somalia will brief the UNSC members.
Somalia is faced with multiple political and security, internal and external challenges. The approval of constitutional amendments has widened the gulf between central government and Puntland regional state which has vowed to operate independently.
Extension in the mandate of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia ( ATMIS) is another key point of discussion. Somalia has been urging complete withdrawal of all ATMIS troops by the end of this year. But after regional and international pressure, the Hassan Sheikh government changed its position and it is willing to host ATMIS troops after 2024 too. The mandate of ATMIS will expire in December 2024.
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) this week endorsed a new AU-led, UN-authorized mission for post-ATMIS security, urging a strong political mandate and comprehensive planning. The AUPSC supports a revised drawdown timeline for ATMIS personnel, suggesting a phased reduction by September.
Another important issue is the prevailing tension between Ethiopia and Somalia over a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Ethiopia and Somaliland in January this year. Somalia calls the MoU a violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Somalia has withdrawn its ambassador to Ethiopia. Ethiopian ambassador to Somalia was expelled too. Two Ethiopian consulate in Garowe Puntland and Hargeisa Somaliland were told to close but both are still open.
While ATMIS troops are set to continue in 2025, Ethiopian troops part of ATMIS might have to leave. Ahmed Figi, the Foreign Minister of Somalia, last week announced that all Ethiopian troops will leave Somalia. The announcement was opposed by Southwest and Jubaland states of Somalia where Ethiopian troops are deployed under bilateral arrangement.
Monday’s consultations will likely focus on ATMIS’s mandate extension, pending a draft resolution from the UK, the penholder on Somalia.
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