Somalia accuses AU of obstruction over AMISOM future
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Staff reporter
- Posted On 24-10-2021, 08:03AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The federal government of Somalia has accused the African Union of obstruction following differences over the future of African Union Mission Forces [AMISOM] in the country, with both sides maintaining their views and position.
While Somalia wants AMISOM to be reconfigured upon full implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP], African Union Peace Committee wants the AMISOM team to have a joint operation with the United Nations, which is also a key security partner of Somalia.
In a statement, the federal government of Somalia accused AU and AMISOM of choosing a “path of obstruction and delay" over the matter, adding that the two entities should consider the implementation of the Somali Transition Plan as agreed initially.
The government maintained that AMISOM and the AU were keen not to hold a press conference to iron out the disagreement, adding that it's not ready to abandon the initial position which was agreed several months ago.
"Regrettably, both AUC and AMISOM have refused to accept a press conference highlighting the progress made so far with the federal government of Somalia on basis that the FGS did not endorse their earlier communique," read the statement
'It's unfortunate that the AUC and AMISOM have chosen a path of obstruction and delay rather than cooperation. The FGS has rejected the communique which continues to express views that are neither aligned to STP nor the security strategy of the host country."
AMISOM has close to 22,000 troops in Somalia whose tenure is expiring in January 2022. The peace committee, which wants a hybrid mission, made proposals to the United Nations Security Council [UNSC] but a determination is yet to be made.
Somalia has been battling with endless conflicts which have injured progress for the last three decades. Importantly, the country has made huge strides in the fight against Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaida linked group that has been wreaking havoc in the country for a couple of years.
GAROWE ONLINE
