By Tom Mwangi, Africa editor
Nairobi, Kenya – The United Nations political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, has emphasized the crucial importance of providing adequate funding for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). DiCarlo cautioned that a funding shortfall could jeopardize plans to transfer security responsibilities to the Somali national forces by the end of 2024.
ATMIS is a multinational peacekeeping mission established by the African Union (AU) in 2007 to support the Somali government’s efforts to establish security and stability in the country. The mission currently has approximately 19,000 troops from several African countries.
Speaking to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, DiCarlo stated that ATMIS had made significant progress in supporting the Somali government’s security sector reforms, but that much work remained to be done. She warned that a lack of funding could lead to a deterioration in security, which would have serious consequences for the country’s stability and development.
“The international community must step up and provide the necessary resources to ensure that ATMIS can continue to support the Somali government’s efforts to build a more stable and secure future for all Somalis,” DiCarlo said.
DiCarlo’s comments came as the UN Security Council was reviewing the progress of the Somali government’s efforts to establish security and stability in the country. The Council noted that while some progress had been made, the security situation remained fragile, with continuing attacks by the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab.
The Council also expressed concern about the slow progress in implementing the Somali government’s security sector reforms, and called for greater efforts to be made to address corruption and build effective governance structures.
The international community has provided significant financial and technical support to Somalia in recent years, but the country continues to face significant challenges. The Somali government is grappling with a range of issues, including drought, and the ongoing conflict with Al-Shabaab.
DiCarlo urged the international community to continue to support Somalia in its efforts to address these challenges and build a more stable and prosperous future for its people.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that Somalia has made significant progress in recent years, but much remains to be done,” she said. “We must continue to support the Somali government and people in their efforts to build a more secure, stable, and prosperous future for all Somalis.”
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