The United Nations has given the green light for a new African peacekeeping mission to help Somalia fight the insurgent group al-Shabaab. This decision comes with some uncertainty, especially regarding the future involvement of Ethiopian troops. The existing peacekeeping force, known as ATMIS, is set to be replaced by a leaner mission called AUSSOM at the end of this year. This isn't the first time such a mission has been in place; before ATMIS, there was AMISOM, which was the largest and deadliest peacekeeping mission in history.

Al-Shabaab, linked to al-Qaida, has been carrying out deadly attacks in Somalia and neighboring Kenya for almost two decades. Recently, in August, they attacked a beach in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, killing nearly 40 people and wounding over 200. Burundi, one of the countries contributing troops to the current mission, has decided not to participate in the upcoming mission due to disagreements with Somalia.

The UK and France welcomed the UN's resolution, with the UK's deputy representative saying it strengthens support for Somalia in its fight against al-Shabaab. However, it’s unclear if Ethiopia, a major contributor to past missions and a target of al-Shabaab, will continue to play a role. Somalia and Ethiopia have been at odds over a sea access deal that Somalia opposes. This deal would give Ethiopia a piece of Somaliland's coast for naval use.

The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, brokered a deal between the two countries last month. However, Somalia's national security adviser has hinted that a final decision on Ethiopia’s participation is still pending. Some experts suggest that Somalia is using Ethiopia's involvement as a bargaining chip in ongoing negotiations. Recently, Somalia accused Ethiopian troops of attacking its forces, which Ethiopia has denied.

After the resolution passed, a Somali MP called for Ethiopia to be excluded from the peacekeeping force due to trust issues. The future of Ethiopia's involvement remains uncertain, and it will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds.

AFRICAN UNION

UN Approves New Peace Mission in Somalia

Continue reading...