Somalia

Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has issued a strong statement against the Acting Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Amb. Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam, accused him of sympathizing with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Minister Fiqi alleged that the South African diplomat--who also serves as the Deputy and Acting Special Representative of the African Union for Somalia--has submitted misleading reports to international bodies, including the UN Security Council, portraying Al-Shabaab as a group seeking statehood and reducing civilian harm, which he called a blatant distortion of reality.

Al Shabaab fighters attacked a town in central Somalia on Wednesday that government forces have been using as a staging area for their efforts to drive back the militants, who have been gaining ground in recent weeks, residents said.

The United States is clear that it will not support the United Nations’ proposed funding model for the African Union security force in Somalia, placing a large question mark over the international mission to contain the jihadist Al Shabab group. The UN Security Council is due to vote in mid-May on the “hybrid” funding model based on Resolution 2719, which allows African Union, or AU, peacekeeping missions in the continent to be at least partly funded by UN-assessed contributions.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of James Swan of the United States as his Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).

Somalia is prepared to offer the United States exclusive control of strategic air bases and ports, its president said in a letter to President Donald Trump seen by Reuters on Friday.

[…] Despite progress over the past few decades, Somalia continues to grapple with terrorism, humanitarian crises and domestic struggles over federalism and security governance. Peace also remains elusive among Somalia’s international partners, as agreement on financing for the newly established African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is yet to materialise.

No group has claimed responsibility, but Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo told the BBC the style of the attack followed a pattern of raids by Somali-based Islamist militant group al-Shabab. 

The Somali forces from the semi-autonomous Puntland region have made significant gains against Islamic State (IS) militants in the Cal Miskaad mountains, capturing key strongholds. The month-long campaign, which has been supported by air strikes from the United Arab Emirates and the United States, has resulted in over 100 IS deaths and the loss of strategic positions, such as the Togjaceel Valley.

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, is expected to have 11,900 personnel operating on the ground in Somalia, including soldiers, police and civilian support staff, according to Somali and AU officials. The new arrangement allocates 4,500 soldiers to Uganda, 2,500 to Ethiopia, 1,520 to Djibouti, 1,410 to Kenya and 1,091 to Egypt, according to the official.

The strikes were carried out in north Somalia, where the Puntland Security Forces is carrying out operations against ISIL since December.