What is AMISOM?
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is an active, regional peacekeeping mission set up by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, with the full support of the United Nations. AMISOM replaced and subsumed the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Peace Support Mission in Somalia or IGASOM, a proposed protection and training mission.
Why is AMISOM in Somalia?
The principal aim of AMISOM is to provide support for Somalia’s Transitory Federal Institutions (TFIs) in their stabilisation efforts and in the pursuit of political dialogue and of reconciliation. AMISOM is also mandated to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and to create the necessary conditions for reconstruction, reconciliation and sustainable development of Somalia.
What are AMISOM’s specific tasks?
- Support dialogue & reconciliation in Somalia working with all stakeholders
- Provide protection to TFIs & key infrastructure to enable them carry out their functions
- Assist in the implementation of the National Security and Stabilisation Plan (NSSP)
- Provide technical assistance & other support to the disarmament and stabilization efforts
- Monitor the security situation in areas of operation
- Facilitate humanitarian operations, including repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
- Protect AMISOM personnel, installations and equipment, including self defence
When did AMISOM deploy in Somalia?
The first batch of peacekeepers deployed in Mogadishu on 6 March 2007.
What is the size of the AMISOM force?
Roughly 6,000 peacekeepers are currently deployed with AMISOM out of a total authorized strength of 8,000.
Who are the AMISOM peacekeepers?
The Djibouti Peace Agreement expressly prohibited countries neighbouring Somalia from contributing troops to any peacekeeping force. The current peacekeepers in Somalia come mainly from Uganda and Burundi, though Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi have all promised to provide additional troops.
How long will AMISOM stay?
AMISOM was created with an initial six month mandate. Subsequent renewals of its mandate by the AU Peace and Security Council have also been authorised by the UN Security Council.
How is AMISOM structured?
AMISOM is headed by the current Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union for Somalia (SRCC) Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra. His deputy is Hon. Wafula Wamunyinyi.
The mission has three components: Military, Police and Civilian. All work hand in hand to achieve the mission mandate.
The Military Component is headed by Force Commander Major General Nathan Mugisha, who is assisted by the Deputy Force Commander Major General Cyprien Hakiza.
The Police Component is headed by Police Commissioner Hudson Benzu, who is assisted by Deputy Police Commissioner Oliver Somasa.
The Civilian Component is supervised by the SRCC and/or the deputy SRCC, who jointly oversee political affairs, civil affairs, humanitarian affairs and public information, among other issues.
Chief Administrative Officer heads the support component of the mission, which includes administration, personnel, finance and budgeting, logistics and procurement, among other issues.