MOGADISHU, Somalia (AXADLE) – The United Nations Security Council has given the green light to a fresh operation spearheaded by the African Union in Somalia, dubbed the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), to clamp down on terrorist factions, notably Al-Shabaab.
This new endeavor isn’t just about boots on the ground but also about paving pathways for humanitarian relief to flow smoothly across the Somali plains.
The blueprint for AUSSOM’s engagement was wielded by the United Kingdom, who plays the role of the keeper of Somalia’s interests at the UN Security Council.
This crucial resolution, brought into effect on a Friday, sanctions the deployment of a maximum of 12,626 peacekeepers. Their mission? To root out terrorism and bring some semblance of stability to this beleaguered Horn of Africa nation.
AUSSOM will take the reins from the current African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which itself emerged from the original AMISOM, first seen on Somali soil back in 2007.
Yet, Somalia is still grappling with decisions about which nations will step up to contribute troops to this new charge.
Adding layers of complexity, there’s a disagreement brewing between Ethiopia and Somalia over the coveted Red Sea access.
Word on the street is that Ethiopian forces won’t be getting an invite to the AUSSOM mission. Curiously, Egypt, often at loggerheads with Ethiopia, is eager to jump into the fray come January 2025.
In the midst of this, Somalia’s National Security Adviser, Hussein Sheikh Ali, chimed in, “We’re in active talks with the AU and potential troop-contributing countries (TCCs) for AUSSOM.
The mandate we’re working with allows the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to call the shots on TCC participation.”
Ali added, “Expect news on our decisions soon, ensuring they are in step with our nation’s priorities. The spirit embedded in the Ankara Declaration still beats strong in our hearts.”
The mentioned Ankara Declaration, inked not too long ago over in Turkey, sowed the seeds for diplomatically cooling the fiery tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Their discord flared earlier this year after Addis Ababa inked a deal with North Western State of Somalia granting them access to the Red Sea—a move Mogadishu viewed as a slight against its sovereignty.
Turkey, having its fingers in both pies, mediated the shaky agreement.
Despite all these diplomatic movements, local sentiments towards AUSSOM ring with skepticism. Somalis are wary, questioning if AUSSOM is just old wine in a new bottle, given ATMIS’s questionable track record. Concerns linger about the new mission being hamstrung by similar obstacles, such as rifts between Mogadishu’s Federal Government and Somali regional states.
These domestic squabbles have the potential to thwart the mission’s agenda and further tangle Somalia’s delicate security tapestry.
On a hopeful note, the international community places its bets on AUSSOM to amplify counter-terrorism efforts while nudging Somalia toward stabilization. However, the mission’s triumph hinges on its capacity to wade through both local animosity and tangled regional politics.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
