AU, UN Special Envoys on Funding Consultations for AMISOM make assessment visit to Somalia

The Special Envoys on Funding Consultations for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), made a day’s visit to Mogadishu, to discuss sustainable funding to peace operations in the Horn of Africa country.
Ramtane Lamamra and Jean-Marie Guehenno, the Special Envoys from the African Union and the United Nations respectively, emphasized a gradual shift of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces, without a regression in the progress already made securing the country.
“It is very important that gradual shift from AMISOM to the Somali authorities happens in a way that doesn’t jeopardize all the efforts that have been made so far,” said UN Envoy Guehenno.
Mr. Guéhenno acknowledged the presence of a multiplicity of actors who are supporting security and peace building programmes in Somalia and highlighted their importance towards the achievement of sustainable peace.
“In the coming phase, the coordination between all these actors is more important than ever and it is of course a very sensitive issue,” he remarked.
The two Special Envoys met with the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia H.E Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, the Prime Minister H.E. Hassan Ali Khaire, the AU and UN Special Representatives for Somalia, Francisco Caetano Madeira and Michael Keating respectively, ambassadors from the Troop Contributing Countries to AMISOM, who are accredited to Somalia, and European Union officials.
Discussions with these teams focused on achieving a smooth transition of the security responsibility from AMISOM to the Somali security forces.
The Envoys’ assessment visit to Somalia is part of ongoing consultations on peace support operations for AMISOM, spearheaded by the African Union and the UN.
The AU Special Representative for Somalia Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira expressed concern that unpredictable funding to AMISOM, may have far reaching implications on Somalia.
“It is no longer an issue of charity. Supporting SNA or AMISOM is not charity at all. Success of security in Somalia, in all its aspects, is success for everything, including international business,” Madeira said.
Upon completion of their assessment, the Envoys will submit a report, which will inform decisions of the African Union Commission and the UN, on the level of funding and provision of logistical support to AMISOM.
In related news (AMISOM has started the biometric registration of the Darwish militia  in Jubbaland state, preceding their integrating into the state’s security forces.
Over five-thousand members of the militia group will be registered in Gedo, Lower Juba and Middle Juba regions. The biometric registration entails collection of key personal data including photographs and fingerprints of each member of the group.
“This is in line with AMISOM and UN programme aimed at developing the force into a police force in Jubbaland that will be mandated to keep law, order and security in the state,” Martin Abili, the AMISOM Police Coordinator in Kismayo explained.
Abili said the militia will be integrated either into the Jubbaland state’s police force, the paramilitary or the Somali National Army.