UNSC authorises new peacekeeping mission in Somalia

Sub: IR

Sec: Int Org

Context:

The United Nations Security Council authorized a new African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will begin on January 1, 2025.
This mission will replace the larger African Union (AU) anti-terrorism operation currently in place.

Somalia’s Security Situation:

Somalia’s security situation has been unstable for over a decade, beginning with Ethiopia’s military intervention in 2006 that ousted an Islamist-led government.
The intervention, while initially successful in removing the administration, sparked a violent insurgency that has since claimed tens of thousands of lives.
The country’s security has been heavily reliant on foreign assistance, especially from African Union forces, which have been stationed in Somalia to combat terrorism and insurgent groups like al-Shabaab.

Funding concerns:

The European Union (EU) and United States, the top funders of AU forces in Somalia, wanted to reduce the number of African Union peacekeepers due to concerns about long-term financing and sustainability.
The US, citing concerns about the funding and sustainability of the mission, abstained from voting on the resolution for AUSSOM. The remaining 14 members of the UN Security Council, however, voted in favour of the resolution, allowing the new mission to proceed.

About UNSC:

The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
The other 5 organs of the United Nations are—the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.
Its primary responsibility is to work to maintain international peace and security.
The council has 15 members: the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year term
The five permanent members are the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.
Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
A “No” vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.
The council’s presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members.
The council is headquartered at New York.