UN Security Council Approves AUSSOM for Somalia, Excludes Ethiopia, Initial Deployment of 12 Months Starting January 1, 2025

Dec 27, 2024, 05:15 PM

The United Nations Security Council has approved the establishment of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), set to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) starting January 1, 2025. The new mission will be authorized for an initial deployment of 12 months, with a force strength of up to 12,626 personnel, which includes 1,040 police officers. This decision comes amid complex negotiations, with Somalia opting to exclude Ethiopia from the new security arrangement, a move that may heighten geopolitical tensions in the Horn of Africa. Burundi, a long-standing contributor to the peacekeeping efforts in Somalia, is also reportedly considering non-participation in the post-ATMIS framework. The resolution reaffirmed the UN's commitment to Somalia's stability and security, as well as its ongoing fight against terrorism.