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African Union Mission to Somalia

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African Union Mission in Somalia
LeadersMajor General Nathan Mugisha
Dates of operationFebruary 2007 –
HeadquartersMogadishu
Active regionsCentral and southern Somalia
AlliesTransitional Federal Government
OpponentsAl-Shabaab
Battles and warsthe Somali Civil War

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The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is an active, regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations in Somalia. AMISOM is 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.[1]

It was created by the African Union's Peace and Security Council on 19 January 2007 with an initial six month mandate.[2] On 21 February 2007 the United Nations Security Council approved the mission's mandate.[3] Subsequent six-monthly renewals of AMISOM's mandate by the African Union Peace and Security Council have also been authorised by the United Nations Security Council.[4][5]

AMISOM's UN mandate was extended for a further six month in August 2008 by UNSCR 1831.[6][7] The AU extended AMISOM's mandate until 17 June 2009 in March 2009.[8][needs update]

Origin of the mission

Main article: Diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in the Somali Civil War

AMISOM replaced and subsumed the IGAD Peace Support Mission in Somalia or IGASOM, which was a proposed Intergovernmental Authority on Development protection and training mission to Somalia approved by the African Union on September 14, 2006.[9] IGASOM was also approved by the United Nations Security Council on December 6, 2006[10].

IGASOM was originally proposed for immediate implementation in March 2005 to provide peacekeeping forces for the latest phase of the Somali Civil War.[11]

At that time, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) had not yet taken control of Mogadishu, and most hopes for national unity lay with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) which had organized in Nairobi, Kenya in 2004 and were planning to established a provisional capital in Baidoa, Bay region, Somalia.

By May 2006, the situation was radically different, as the ICU had recently been engaged by the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism or ARPCT and was fighting for control of Mogadishu in the Second Battle of Mogadishu. By June, they had established control of the capital. Fighting began to spread to other parts of the nation as the UIC gained ground.

Plans for IGASOM continued, though by July there were indications of opposition from the ICU, who saw the initiative as a US-backed, Western means to curb the growth of their Islamic movement.[12]

Until December 2006, the UN Security Council had imposed an arms embargo on the group,[13] but the embargo was partially lifted and a mandate for IGASOM issued on 6 December 2006 for six months.[14]

On 21 February 2007, the United Nations Security Council authorised the African Union to deploy a peacekeeping mission with a mandate of six months [3]. In March 2007, Ugandan military officials arrived on the ground in Somalia.[15]. On 20 August 2007, the United Nations Security Council extended the African Union's authorisation to continue deploying AMISOM for a further six months and requested the Secretary-General to explore the option of replacing AMISOM with a United Nations Peacekeeping Operation to Somalia.[4]

Mission planning

Scope of the mission

IGASOM was expected to eventually reach 8,000 troops, with an expected cost of $335 million for the first year. According to UN Security Council Resolution 1725, states bordering Somalia would not be eligible to deploy troops under IGASOM. The remaining (non-bordering) IGAD member nations include Sudan, Eritrea, and Uganda. Because of the objection of the burden falling on these three nations alone (and the rivalry between Ethiopia and Eritrea), the mission was expanded to include other Member States of the African Union .

AMISOM has a different composition. As proposed, it is to comprise an initial 3 battalions, growing to a total of 9 battalions of 850 troops each, which would serve for an initial stabilization period of 6 months. The mission was to be modelled after the African Union Mission in Burundi (AMIB).[2]

ICU resistance

As early as March 25, 2005 Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys of the Union of Islamic Courts warned any peacekeepers would be unwelcome in the country. He was quoted by the BBC as saying, "We will fight fiercely to the death any intervention force that arrives in Somalia."[16] Yet at the time, the ICU was not the political or military force it was to become later.

Faced with the ascendancy of the UIC after taking over the capital in the Second Battle of Mogadishu between May and June, 2006, UN-watchers were growing concerned with the level of hostility of the ICU towards the proposed IGASOM mission.[12]

Though IGAD and the ICU met and published a cordial and formal communique[17] committing the ICU to the IGAD plans on December 2, by the time United Nations Security Council Resolution 1725 was passed on December 6[10], the ICU was openly and militantly opposed to peacekeepers entering Somalia, and vowed to treat any peacekeepers as hostile forces. Because of regional divisions, there were also UIC resistance to allowing Ethiopian troops be part of the mission. Ethiopia, for its part, was leery of allowing Eritrean troops to be members of the IGAD peacekeeping force.

In the face of ICU threats, Uganda, the only IGAD members who had openly offered to send forces (a battalion), withdrew in the face of concerns of the present feasibility of the mission.[18][19][20] In Uganda's defense, the crisis does not allow for peacekeepers when there are active hostilities conducted with heavy weapons (see Battle of Baidoa).

On December 23, 2006, the fate and feasibility of IGASOM remained uncertain, though US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa to obtain assurances and emphasize plans to deploy IGASOM early in 2007.[21]

On January 1, 2007, after the defeat of the ICU in various battles in December 2006, Uganda again renewed its pledge of a battalion of troops. Between Uganda and Nigeria (which is a Member State of the African Union, but not of IGAD), there was a pledge of a total of 8,000 peacekeepers.[22] Malawi also pledged to send forces,[23] while Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania may do so.[24]

Gathering support

Following the defeat of the Islamic Courts Union in December 2006 – January 2007 the international community began to gather both fiscal commitments as well as military forces for the mission. Nations of the African Union (AU) outside the IGAD community were drawn on to provide support.

On January 17, 2007, the US ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, said the US pledged $40 million to support the deployment of a peacekeeping force for Somalia.[25] By January 20, the European Union followed with a pledge of 15 million euros.[26]

On January 19, 2007 the mission was formally defined and approved by the African Union at the 69th meeting of the Peace and Security Council.[2]

On January 22, 2007 Malawi agreed to send a half-battalion to a battalion (ranging widely anywhere between approximately 400 to 1,200 troops) for a peacekeeping mission to Somalia.[27]

On January 24, 2007 Nigeria pledged a battalion (a force between 770 and 1,100 troops) to join the Somali peacekeeping mission.[28]

On February 1, 2007 Burundi committed to the peacekeeping mission, pledging up to 1,000 troops.[29] By March 27, it was confirmed that 1700 Burundian peacekeepers would be sent to Somalia.[30]

On February 2, 2007, the United Nations Security Council welcomed the advent of the African Union and IGAD-led peacekeeping mission.[31]

On February 5, 2007 Tanzania offered to train Somali government troops, but not to deploy peacekeepers.[32]

On February 9, 2007 a gathering of 800 Somali demonstrators in north Mogadishu, where Islamist support was strongest, burned U.S., Ethiopian, and Ugandan flags in protest of the proposed peacekeeping mission. A masked representative of the resistance group, the Popular Resistance Movement in the Land of the Two Migrations, said Ethiopian troops would be attacked in their hotels; the same group had made a video warning peacekeepers to avoid coming to Somalia.[33] By this date, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and Burundi had committed to the peacekeeping mission, but the total force was about half of the proposed 8,000-strong force.[34] Uganda had pledged 1,400 troops and some armored vehicles for a mission lasting up to 9 months, and the AU had pledged $11.6 million.[35]

On February 16, 2007 Uganda announced it would deploy 1,500 well-seasoned troops as early as Saturday, February 17, 2007 under the command of Major General Levi Karuhanga. The troops had been training for two years in preparation for the mission.[36]

The Burundian troops were technically ready to go in early August 2007, but equipment promised by the United States and France had not yet arrived.[37] On December 23, 2007, an advance force of 100 Burundians was deployed[38] and another 100 soldiers arrived on 2007-12-24.[39] By late 2008, 1,700 Burundian soldiers were deployed to Mogadishu.[40]

Expanding role

In a closed door meeting in Kampala on 22 July 2010, AU ministers agreed to expand the mission's mandate from a peacekeeping focus to a peace-enforcement focus that would engage al-Shabaab more directly. The decision came soon after deadly bomb attacks in the Ugandan capital.[41] A few days later in response to UN pressure, the AU agreed not to expand the mandate but did allow preemptive strikes against Al-Shabaab and promised more troops from other African countries.[42]

On July 23, 2010, Djibouti and Guinea pledged troops to AMISOM.[43]

Deployment

Country Number of troops Casualties
Uganda 2,700[44] 36 killed 73 wounded, 17 diseased
Burundi 2,550[45] 29 killed 17 wounded, 50+ diseased
Total 5,250 65 killed 90 wounded, 67+ diseased

Casualties

2007

  • March 7, 2007 – Two Ugandan soldiers were wounded in an ambush in Mogadishu.[46]
  • March 31, 2007 – A mortar attack in Mogadishu killed one and wounded five Ugandan soldiers.[47]
  • May 16, 2007 – Four Ugandan soldiers were killed and five wounded by a roadside bomb when their convoy was attacked in Mogadishu.[48]
  • August 1, 2007 – Two Ugandan soldiers were wounded when their convoy was ambushed en route to a hotel where AMISOM Major General Levi Karuhanga was staying.[49]
  • October 23, 2007 – A mortar attack in Mogadishu wounded three Ugandan soldiers.[50]
  • October 24, 2007 – One Ugandan soldier was wounded in a grenade attack on the AU base at the Km4 intersection in Mogadishu.[51]

2008

  • April 8, 2008 – One Burundian soldier was killed and another wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on an AU base in Mogadishu.[52][53][54]
  • May 20, 2008 – Five Ugandan soldiers were wounded in fighting in Mogadishu.[55]
  • August 1, 2008 – A Ugandan soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu near the international airport where most of the peacekeepers in Somalia are based.[56]
  • September 14, 2008 – One Ugandan soldier was killed and two wounded when their convoy, inspecting for mines in Mogadishu, was ambushed.[57]
  • September 15, 2008 – One Ugandan soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu.[58][59]
  • October 14, 2008 – Two Burundian soldiers were wounded by a roadside bomb near Mogadishu airport.[40]
  • December 3, 2008 – One Burundian soldier was killed in an attack on a AU base in Mogadishu.[60]

2009

  • January 6, 2009 – One Ugandan soldier was killed and one wounded by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu.[61]
  • February 3, 2009 – One Ugandan soldier was wounded by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu.[62]
  • February 22, 2009 – 11 Burundian soldiers were killed and 15 wounded in a double suicide attack on their base in Mogadishu.
  • March 18, 2009 – One Ugandan soldier was killed and two wounded by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu.[63]
  • April 9, 2009 – One Burundian soldier died after a suicide attack the day before.[64]
  • May 6, 2009 – One Burundian soldier was killed in an ambush in Mogadishu.[65]
  • June 18, 2009 – One Ugandan soldier was killed and one was wounded by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu.[66]
  • July 12, 2009 – Three Ugandan soldiers were killed and one was wounded in a mortar attack on the presidential palace in Mogadishu.[67]
  • July 23 – One Ugandan soldier was killed in fighting at the Villa Somalia in Mogadishu.[68]
  • July 23 – July 29, 2009 – An epidemic of Leptospirosis hit the Burundian and Ugandan military camps in Mogadishu killing three Burundian and two Ugandan soldiers. Another 18 Burundian soldiers were placed in quarantine. About 50 Burundian and 17 Ugandan soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment to Nairobi, Kenya.[44][69]
  • September 17, 2009 – 17 soldiers were killed and 29 wounded in a suicide attack by Islamist rebels on the headquarters of the African Union force in Mogadishu. At least four civilians were also killed and more than 10 wounded. 12 of those killed were Burundian soldiers and five were Ugandan. Among the dead was the AMISOM deputy commander Maj. Gen. Juvenal Niyonguruza, from Burundi. Also, one of the wounded was AMISOM commander Gen. Nathan Mugisha, from Uganda.[70]

2010

  • May 20 – One Ugandan soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Mogadishu.[71]
  • June 3 – Two Ugandan soldiers were killed and five were wounded in fighting in Mogadishu.[72]
  • July 4 – Two Ugandan soldiers were killed and three were wounded in fighting in Mogadishu.[73]
  • July 11 – Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for the July 2010 Kampala attacks, which killed 74 people, as retaliation for Ugandan support for AMISOM.[74]
  • July 23 – Two Ugandan soldiers were killed when their base at the presidential palace was attacked in Mogadishu.[75]
  • August 4 – The Ugandan army confirmed that since the start of the mission 26 of their soldiers have been killed and 68 injured.[76]
  • August 30 - Four Ugandan soldiers were killed and eight wounded in a mortar attack conducted by the al-Shabab militia on the Somali presidential palace.[77]
  • September 9 - Two Ugandan soldiers were killed when suicide bombers attacked Mogadishu's airport.[78]
  • September 16 - Three Ugandan soldiers were wounded while re-taking a police station from insurgents in Mogadishu.[79]
  • September 24 - A Ugandan soldier was killed and two wounded in fighting in Mogadishu in the area of the parliament.[80]
  • October 7 The African Union says its forces have captured 40% of the Somali capital Mogadishu from Islamist militants in a recent offensive.

See also

References

  1. ^ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1772. S/RES/1772(2007) page 3. (2007) Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  2. ^ a b c "69th meeting of the peace and Security Council". Agence de Presse Africaine. 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2007-02-09. [dead link]
  3. ^ a b United Nations Security Council Resolution 1744. S/RES/1744(2007) (2007) Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  4. ^ a b United Nations Security Council Resolution 1772. S/RES/1772(2007) (2007) Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  5. ^ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1801. S/RES/1801(2008) (2008) Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  6. ^ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1831. S/RES/1831(2008) (2008) Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  7. ^ United Nations Security Council Verbatim Report 5942. S/PV/5942 23 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  8. ^ http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=91589
  9. ^ "African Union endorses regional peace plan". Reuters. September 14, 2006.
  10. ^ a b United Nations Security Council Resolution 1725. S/RES/1725(2006) (2006) Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  11. ^ "IGAD to deploy peacekeepers despite opposition by faction leaders", IRIN, March 16, 2005
  12. ^ a b Security Council Report: July 2006: Somalia Security Council Report
  13. ^ Sam Kutesa: We call on the Security Council to lift the arms embargo to enable deployment of IGASOM and AU Forces."
  14. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-somalia7dec07,1,5006337.story?coll=la-headlines-world
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ Somali 'jihad' on foreign troops BBC
  17. ^ Communique IGAD
  18. ^ Security Council Report: December 2006: Somalia Security Council Report
  19. ^ Controversy in Ugandan government over sending troops to Somalia Shabelle Media Network
  20. ^ Uganda in quandary of sending peacekeepers to Somalia Shabelle Media Networks
  21. ^ [2] Voice of America
  22. ^ Ugandan troops ready to deploy to Somalia within days Shabelle Media Network
  23. ^ Latest News – SomaliNet
  24. ^ "Five killed in Mogadishu attacks". BBC News. January 26, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  25. ^ "US gives Somalia Sh6.4 billion". Kenya Times. 2007-01-17. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
  26. ^ "AU wants UN role in Somalia". Reuters. 2007-01-20. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  27. ^ "Malawi to send peacekeepers to Somalia". IRIN. 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  28. ^ "Nigeria to send peacekeeping battalion to Somalia". Reuters. 2007-01-24. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  29. ^ "Burundi joins Somalia peace force". BBC. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  30. ^ "Burundi troops ready to join Somalia peacekeepers". Reuters. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  31. ^ "Security Council press statement on somalia SC/8947 AFR/1495". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  32. ^ "Tanzania offers to train Somali troops, not deploy". Shabelle Media Networks. 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2007-02-09. [dead link]
  33. ^ "Diplomats stress need for all-inclusive talks on the future of Somalia". Associated Press. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  34. ^ "Peacekeeping protests in Somalia". BBC. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  35. ^ "Off to Somalia". StrategyPage.com. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  36. ^ "Ugandan Troops Set to Arrive in Somalia as Part of AU Force". Shabelle Media Network. 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-02-16. [dead link]
  37. ^ "Burundi delays Somali deployment". BBC News. August 7, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  38. ^ "Burundi troops join AU in Somalia", BBC News, 23 December 2007
  39. ^ France 24
  40. ^ a b http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jo9ndbvcfWlcCT7Xbwz_5PPFJPzg
  41. ^ Kazooba, Charles (2010-07-26). "Somalia: AU Ministers Agree to 'Take On' Al Shabaab". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  42. ^ Kasasira, Risdel; Solomon Muyita (2010-07-28). "Africa: United Nations Blocks Change of Amisom Mandate". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2010-07-29. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  43. ^ "AU nations to boost Somalia force". Al Jazeera. July 23, 2010.
  44. ^ a b http://allafrica.com/stories/200907300007.html
  45. ^ http://www.hiiraan.com/news2_rss/2009/Aug/burundi_sends_troop_reinforcements_to_somalia.aspx
  46. ^ http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Features_34/Ugandan_troops_begin_suicide_mission_in_Somalia.shtml
  47. ^ Reuters (2007-04-02). "Rebel Mortar Attack in Somalia's Capital Kills Peacekeeper". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-02. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  48. ^ Ali Musa Abdi (2007-05-16). "Mogadishu blast kills four Ugandan peacekeepers". Agence France-Presse via the Middle East Times. Retrieved 2007-05-16. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ http://www.panapress.com/freenews.asp?code=eng014670&dte=08/03/2007
  50. ^ http://www.hiiraan.com/print2_news/2007/Oct/uganda_local_soldiers_wounded_in_somalia.aspx
  51. ^ http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2007/301/22.shtml
  52. ^ Press TV – Troop killed in Somali explosion
  53. ^ Garowe Online – Home
  54. ^ Latest News – SomaliNet
  55. ^ http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2008/05/27/insurgents_attack_ugandan_troops_in_somali_capital/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Latest+news
  56. ^ "Somali bombing kills peacekeeper". BBC News. August 1, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  57. ^ http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/09/14/africa/OUKWD-UK-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.php
  58. ^ http://www.hiiraan.com/news2_rss/2008/Sept/ugandan_peacekeeper_killed_in_fresh_mogadishu_attack.aspx
  59. ^ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LF025558.htm
  60. ^ http://www.somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/17419
  61. ^ http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2009/jan/ugandan_peacekeeper_wfp_worker_killed_in_somalia.aspx
  62. ^ "Somalia fighting kills at least 39 civilians - CNN.com". CNN. February 2, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  63. ^ http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-19-voa55.cfm
  64. ^ http://www.somalipress.com/news/2008-apr-10/somalia-injured-burundi-soldier-died-suicide-attack.html
  65. ^ http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=&section=international&xfile=data/international/2009/May/international_May428.xml
  66. ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/200906181073.html
  67. ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/200907130002.html
  68. ^ http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/12th_UPDF_soldier_killed_in_Somalia_88729.shtml
  69. ^ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/52e419468f12c7192c64adb5d3bb28e3.htm
  70. ^ "Suicide blasts hit Somalia base". BBC News. September 17, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  71. ^ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE64J0U8.htm
  72. ^ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6540A4.htm
  73. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=133275&sectionid=351020501
  74. ^ Bariyo, Nicholas (12 July 2010). "Deadly Blasts Rock Uganda's Capital". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  75. ^ "Ugandan peacekeepers killed in Somalia clashes". BBC News. July 23, 2010.
  76. ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/201008040004.html
  77. ^ http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/2010830155656429103.html
  78. ^ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6880YX.htm
  79. ^ "African Union peacekeepers cite struggles in expanding reach across Somalia's troubled capital". Fox News. September 17, 2010.
  80. ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/201009240473.html
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