The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), led by Egyptian Ambassador to Ethiopia and AU Permanent Representative Dr. Mohamed Omar Gad, concluded a three-day visit to Mogadishu on Thursday. The delegation arrived on Tuesday and held successive meetings with Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed Abdirizak and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, focusing on the post-December 31, 2021 future of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Discussions also addressed security challenges and the readiness of Somalia’s national army to take over full security responsibility.
Somalia Stands Firm on Transition Plan, Rejects Hybrid Proposal
During his opening remarks to the delegation, Foreign Minister Abdirizak reaffirmed that the Somali Transition Plan (STP) remains the government’s non-negotiable roadmap. He stated that the STP “provides not only clarity in how security transition is to be conducted but also a clear break from an AMISOM mission solely focused on security and a new AU mission able to support Somalia under the new political, governance, social and security dispensation.”
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) has completed a 3-day field visit to #Somalia. The leader of the delegation and Chair of the AU-PSC, Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Omar Gad provides a summary and highlights of their engagements in this video. pic.twitter.com/RxeuyJQ4a6
— AMISOM (@amisomsomalia) November 11, 2021
In a pointed address, the Minister added that “the Somali nation will not accept foot-dragging, misrepresentation, and delays that hinder the implementation of a successful security transition.” He emphasized that no alternative plan can be implemented without the host nation’s approval, stressing that “the STP remains the position of the FGS not only under this administration but future administration. The Somali nation is united in seeking to realize the responsibility for its own security and irrespective of election politics or otherwise, this will remain constant.”
The comments come after the Somali government categorically rejected an earlier AUPSC hybrid proposal that would have maintained African and UN troops in the country until 2026 under a modified mandate.
Minister Outlines Root Cause of AU-FGS Disagreement
Speaking to the BBC, Minister Abdirizak acknowledged that troop-contributing countries are reluctant to withdraw and have pushed for an extension. However, he defended Somalia’s position, noting that the government had submitted a comprehensive withdrawal plan to the United Nations a full year ago.
“Somalia insisted that its proposal be accepted during the transition process. Even if our plan had been adopted by AMISOM, with the UN on board, we would still have continued to negotiate for some time,” he explained. “Unfortunately, the AU didn’t agree to our plan in the first place, and that’s where the reason for the current disagreement lies.”
He added that the latest meetings with Prime Minister Roble were intended to assess progress, identify gaps, and seek a consensus decision within the short time remaining before AMISOM’s mandate expires.
FM Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamud received on Tuesday the members of the PSC of #AU who arrived in #Mogadishu on Monday for a three-day field mission, and discussed with them the mandate of #AMISOM, which is about to expire by Dec 31.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇴 (@MOFASomalia) November 9, 2021
🔗➡https://t.co/nUOdsO9Dlh#Somalia #Somali pic.twitter.com/JYX2ONphHk
Presidential Candidates Engage AUPSC on Sovereignty and Elections
In a parallel development, the 15 AUPSC representatives met with the Mogadishu-based Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC). According to a CPC spokesperson, the opposition group used the opportunity to reiterate Somalia’s sovereignty over its security affairs.
The CPC urged that discussions on a potential AU-UN hybrid force should be postponed until a new government is elected, effectively calling for any long-term security arrangements to be decided by the next administration rather than the current caretaker government.
Diplomatic Tensions Preceded Breakthrough Talks
The latest round of negotiations followed months of procedural deadlock and was precipitated by the federal government’s expulsion of Simon Mulongo, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia. Officials alleged that Mulongo had engaged in activities incompatible with AMISOM’s mandate, a move that escalated tensions but ultimately brought both sides back to the negotiating table.