African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia

• 30 Dec 2024

For Prelims: UN Security Council (UNSC), African Union (AU), African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Somaliland, Puntland, Horn of Africa, Blue Berets, Tutsis. 

For Mains: Role of peacekeeping missions in resolving conflicts, regional peace initiatives. 

Source: HT 

Why in News?  

Recently, the UN Security Council (UNSC) endorsed the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council’s initiative named African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). 

• The resolution titled Resolution 2767 (2024) aims to address Somalia's security challenges posed by Somalia’s civil war and terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.  
• It is similar to UN peacekeeping missions.  

 Note: Peace and Security Council (PSC) is the standing decision-making organ of the AU for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.  

• It is also the key pillar of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), which is the framework for promoting peace, security and stability in Africa. 
• The Levant is the eastern shoreland of the Mediterranean sea comprising Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. 

What is ATMIS and AUSSOM? 

• About ATMIS: African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is a multidimensional mission (military, police and civilian), authorised by the African Union and mandated by the United Nations Security Council. 
  • Mandate: It replaces the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) with a clear mandate to fully implement the Somali Transition Plan (STP). 
    • STP is a comprehensive guide by Somalia and partners for transferring security responsibility from the African Union to the Federal Government of Somalia. 
• About AUSSOM: It provides for the replacement of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), whose mandate ends on 31st December 2024. 
  • Transitioning Responsibility: Since 2022, 7,000 ATMIS troops have been reduced, and AUSSOM continues supporting Somali forces in stabilising the nation. 
  • Mandate and Operations: AU members can deploy up to 12,626 personnel, including 1,040 police officers, until June 2025 to combat terrorism and maintain security. 
  • Financing: A hybrid approach, combining UN assessed contributions (75%) and African Union/partner contributions (25%), has been proposed to fund the mission to ensure sustainable and predictable funding for African peace operations. 
  • Challenges: Burundi and Ethiopian troops will not be taking part in AUSSOM. 
    • Egypt may take part in the AUSSOM with which Ethiopia has its own disputes over a dam it has constructed along the Nile. 
    • Ethiopia has good relations with authorities governing Somaliland (a breakaway region of Somalia). 
      • The US expressed concerns that the UN disproportionately funded the mission and abstained from voting in the UNSC. 

What is Somalia’s Civil War? 

• About: It began in 1988, during President Siad Barre's authoritarian rule. His regime collapsed in January 1991, creating a power vacuum and chaos. 
• Fragmentation of Somalia: After Barre's fall, Somalia split into regions controlled by militias and groups, including Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, and Puntland, which declared partial autonomy in 1998. 
  • Somalia and Ethiopia have been in a year-long dispute over a sea access deal Ethiopia made with the separatist Somaliland region. 

 

• Rise of Clannism: The clannism system fueled tensions in Somalia, hindering government unity and peace efforts, while clan rivalries strained relations between the Federal Government and regional states. 
  • Clannism is the dominance of clan-based politics, where loyalty to clan and sub-clan interests often overrides national unity.  
  • The four main clans in Somalia are Dorad, Hawiye, Dir and Rahanweym. 
• Peace Efforts:  
  • Arta Declaration (2000): Regional organizations such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) attempted to establish a more representative government. 
  • Transitional Government: Transitional National Government (TNG) and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) were established but were plagued by inefficiency, infighting, and corruption.  
• Rise of Al-Shabaab: By 2007, the rise of Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group, escalated the conflict. It is al-Qaeda’s strongest affiliate. 
  • Al-Shabaab's primary goal is to overthrow the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), expel foreign military presence, and establish a strict interpretation of Islamic law (Sharia).  
  • The group advocates for a “Greater Somalia,” seeking to unite ethnic Somalis across East Africa into a single Islamic state. 
    • Greater Somalia would include Somalia, Somaliland, part of Djibouti and Kenya (Northern areas) and the Ethiopian Ogaden. 

 Note: Horn of Africa comprises the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. 

 

What is the UN Peacekeeping Mission? 

• About: It is a set of operations led by the UN to help maintain peace and security in conflict zones through deployment of military personnel, police, and civilian experts. 
  • It was established in May 1948 when the UNSC authorised the deployment of UN military observers to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors. 
  • UN peacekeepers are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets. 
• Global Presence: Over the past 70 years, more than 1 million men and women have served under the UN flag in more than 70 UN peacekeeping operations.  
  • More than 1,00,000 military, police and civilian personnel from 125 countries currently serve in 14 peacekeeping operations. 

 

• Effectiveness:  
  • Success Stories:  
    • Sierra Leone (1999-2005): The peacekeepers disarmed over 75,000 ex-fighters, including child soldiers, and destroyed 42,000 weapons, greatly aiding the country's stabilization. 
    • Burundi (2004-2006): UN peacekeepers helped the country recover from ethnic conflict, aiding the transition from civil war to stability, and extended their mission to protect these gains. 
    • Liberia ( 2003-2018): United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) brokered peace agreements, oversaw disarmament, and supported democratic elections in Liberia. 
    • Sierra Leone (1999 to 2005): Peacekeepers ended the country’s civil war and facilitated the implementation of the Lome Peace Agreement.  
      • The mission’s success was driven by the commitment of both warring parties to the peace process, its clear mandate, and the support from the international community. 
  • Failures:  
    • Somalia (1992-1995): The Battle of Mogadishu (1993) saw US soldiers killed and their bodies paraded, leading to the swift withdrawal of American and UN forces.  
      • By 1995, the UN withdrew completely, marking the mission a failure. 
    • Rwanda (1994): In 1994, over 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis ethnic group, were killed in a genocide.  
      • Despite early warnings, the UN failed to intervene or provide enough resources to prevent it. 
    • Srebrenica (1995): In 1995, UN peacekeepers in Srebrenica, Bosnia, failed to prevent the execution of 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces, despite declaring it a "safe area." 

 India's Contribution in UN Peacekeeping Missions 

• India’s Role: India has played a significant role in UN Peacekeeping Missions contributing more troops than any other country, with over 253,000 personnel serving in 49 of the 72 UN missions since 1948.  
  • As of January 2024, around 5,900 Indian troops are deployed across 12 UN peacekeeping missions.  
• Past Missions:  
  • Haiti (2017-19): India contributed two Formed Police Units (FPU) with around 280 personnel from BSF, CISF, and Assam Rifles from November 2017 to July 2019, achieving great success. 
  • Liberia (2007-16): A 125-member all-women police unit in Liberia inspired a fourfold increase in women applying to join the police. 
  • Sierra Leone (1999-2001): India contributed two Infantry Battalion groups, two engineer companies, Attack helicopter unit, and medical unit among others. 
  • Sudan (2005): India has contributed two Infantry Battalion groups, Engineer Company, Signal Company, among others. 
  • Rwanda (1994-96): An Infantry Battalion, Signal Company, Engineer Company, Staff Officers, and Military Observers were provided. 
  • Somalia (1993-94): Indian Army deployed a Brigade Group comprising 5,000 all ranks and the Navy deployed four battleships. 

Conclusion 

The recent endorsement of AUSSOM by the UN Security Council underscores the continued struggle to stabilize Somalia amidst its prolonged civil war. While African-led missions like ATMIS and AUSSOM are crucial, historical failures of UN peacekeeping, such as in Somalia and Rwanda, emphasize the need for clear mandates, resources, and international cooperation. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Analyze the successes and failures of UN peacekeeping missions.

 

 Mains 

Q. Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UN Security Council. (2015)