African Union Mission to Somalia
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations Security Council. It was mandated to support transitional governmental structures, implement a national security plan, train the Somali security forces, and to assist in creating a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid. As part of its duties, AMISOM supported the Federal Government of Somalia's forces in their battle against Al-Shabaab militants.
| African Union Mission in Somalia | |
|---|---|
Map of Somalia | |
| Leaders | Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira (Mission Head); Simon Mulongo (Deputy Head of Mission); Lt. Gen. Tigabu Yilma Wondlmhunean (Force Commander); AIGP Augustine Magnus Kailie (Police Commissioner). |
| Dates of operation | March 2007 – 31 March 2022 (15 years, 25 days) |
| Headquarters | Mogadishu |
| Active regions | Central and southern Somalia |
| Size | Approx. 20,626 |
| Allies | Federal government of Somalia Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (2007–18) Raskamboni movement |
| Opponents | al-Shabaab ARS (2007–09) Hizbul Islam (2009–14) Al-Qaeda |
| Battles and wars | Somali Civil War |
| Website | amisom-au |
AMISOM was created by the African Union's Peace and Security Council on 19 January 2007 with an initial six-month mandate. On 21 February 2007 the United Nations Security Council approved the mission's mandate. Subsequent six-monthly renewals of AMISOM's mandate by the African Union Peace and Security Council have also been authorized by the United Nations Security Council.
The duration of AMISOM's mandate had been extended in each period that it has been up for review, until it was replaced on April 1, 2022, by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.
On 21 December 2021, the United Nations Security Council reauthorized AMISOM in Somalia for three months. The new mandate ran until 31 March 2022, ahead of a phased handover of responsibilities to Somalia's security forces in early 2023. The reauthorized mandate allows AMISOM to 'take all necessary measures to carry out its mandate, in full compliance with participating States' obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in full respect of Somalia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence. AMISOM's mandate ended on 31 March 2022, and was replaced by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.