AMISOM’s Somalia withdrawal will be long and difficult

Abstract

Subject AMISOM withdrawal plans Significance All peace operations must come to an end but when and how to do so is often controversial. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has been debating how to implement a successful exit strategy for years. The official approach is a conditions-based transition under which security responsibilities will be gradually transferred to Somali security forces, but questions remain over how quickly they can be ready. Impacts Escalating US military operations will not defeat al-Shabaab but may help contain it, buying room for Somalis to build the security forces. Calls for AMISOM to be funded through UN contributions are unlikely to be heeded absent a US change of postion on UN funding. Previous plans for AMISOM to transition into a UN force now look highly unlikely, given both UN reluctance and conditions on the ground.