Amisom mandate at a glance

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

File: AMISOM troops in Somalia

What is Amisom

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The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) is a peace support mission operated by the African Union with a mandate from the United Nations. It was created by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council in January 2007 and deployed to Somalia in December of the same year.

The mission has three components: civilian, military and police. The mission is currently authorised by the UN to have slightly over 22,000 troops and police who today come from seven countries, namely Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Ghana and Nigeria.

What is its mandate?

Amisom is mandated by the UN Security Council to:

Take all necessary measures, as appropriate, and in coordination with the Somalia National Defence and Public Safety Institutions, to reduce the threat posed by al Shabaab and other armed opposition groups.
Assist in consolidating and expanding the control of the FGS over its national territory.
Assist the FGS in establishing conditions for effective and legitimate governance across Somalia, through support, as appropriate, in the areas of security, including the protection of Somali institutions and key infrastructure, governance, rule of law and delivery of basic services,

Provide, within its capabilities and as appropriate, technical and other support for the enhancement of the capacity of the Somalia State institutions, particularly the National Defence, Public Safety and Public Service Institutions.

Support the FGS in establishing the required institutions and conducive conditions for the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections by 2016, in accordance with the Provisional Constitution,

Liaise with humanitarian actors and facilitate, as may be required and within its capabilities, humanitarian assistance in Somalia, as well as the resettlement of internally displaced persons and the return of refugees.
Facilitate coordinated support by relevant AU institutions and structures towards the stabilisation and reconstruction of Somalia.

Provide protection to AU and UN personnel, installations and equipment, including the right of self-defence.
What are Amisom’s rules of engagement?

Amisom is deployed under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter which allows for the use of force in implementing UN Security Council decisions. It was under Article 51 of the same chapter, which recognises “the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence” that Kenya invaded Somalia in October 2011. Amisom is authorised to employ “all necessary measures” in the fight against al Shabaab. Rule No 1.27 of its rules of engagement also authorises “use of force up to and including deadly force in support of offensive actions”.

Why does Amisom not have military helicopters?

In its resolution 2036 (2012), the UN Security Council authorised an aviation component of up to 12 helicopters comprising nine utility helicopters and three attack helicopters. The Amisom deployment model requires contingents to deploy with their own equipment for which they are then compensated by the UN via a logistical support package to Amisom.

Thus the helicopters were to come from the troop contributing countries. Uganda had initially pledged four choppers but this was withdrawn after three of them crashed into Mt Kenya while en route to Somalia in August 2012. None of the other four TCCs — Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Burundi — have volunteered their own planes either. It is also important to note that the KDF airstrikes using jet fighters are not Amisom operations as the mission is not allowed fixed wing aircraft.

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