African Union Mission in Somalia: Assessing Challenges to AMISOM’s Exit by Iakovos Balassi - Georgetown Security Studies Review
While the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has made progress towards weakening al-Shabaab, the force must expand their efforts to proactively strengthen Somalia’s security architecture before their planned withdrawal in 2021. On February 16, AMISOM announced a change in strategy at the end of a five-day summit between military commanders. The new strategy seeks to be more offensive, by launching targeted operations intended to draw al-Shabaab terrorists from their hideouts in preparation for AMISOM’s forthcoming disengagement. This shift came alongside the decision to swiftly withdraw 1000 Burundian troops, a move that Burundi opposes out of concern for the mission’s overall security. AMISOM’s exit and transition plan faces serious, long-term challenges as it fails to properly address Somalia’s lacking security apparatus and its capacity to control a potential resurgence of al-Shabaab.
AMISOM was established in 2007 with the aim of supporting national reconciliation and protecting Somali civilians, government officials, and institutions from al-Shabaab. The force is comprised of soldiers from Burundi, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda, and assisted by support from international partners, including the United States. AMISOM’s initial charter manifested in a defensive peacekeeping strategy, but the mission became increasingly offensive as al-Shabaab gained strength. Today, its primary goals remain unchanged: to degrade al-Shabaab and protect Somalia’s political process. However, what began as a six-month mandate has worn on into an 11-year fight. As a result AMISOM is facing pressure to withdraw causing the final, perhaps most challenging component of their strategy to garner increased attention: preparing Somali security forces for AMISOM’s eventual departure…