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WEB_Jigsaw_SU_Somalia

What next for African Union peace operations in Somalia?

by Partha Moman

Since 2016 the mission’s purpose has become less clear as it ceased offensive operations and the war with Al Shabaab slid into a grinding stalemate
Successive AU missions, focused on reaching a military solution to the FGS-Al Shabaab war, have played only a limited role in addressing wider political disputes in Somalia
PMoman

Author

Partha Moman

LSE IDEAS

This Strategic Update from Partha Moman traces the evolution of African Union peace operations in Somalia, from AMISOM’s deployment in 2007 to the current AUSSOM mission; it addresses the failure of negotiations and strategic vision, the reduction of multilateral intervention, shifting mandates, operational challenges, and political violence dynamics. As security in Somalia remains volatile and funding gaps persist, this paper provides policy recommendations for a strategic reorientation of AUSSOM towards enabling positive political dialogue, improving transparency and cost-effectiveness to foster long-term peace and stability.

Read the PDF:

 Peace Operations in Somalia

About the Author:

Partha Moman is a PhD candidate in International Relations at LSE, exploring the impact of changing geopolitics on security dynamics in the Horn of Africa. He has also provided research and advisory services for the FCDO, UN, the World Bank, SIDA, and other institutional donors. He previously led the Somali Dialogue Platform at the Rift Valley Institute. Earlier in his career he worked for Africa’s Voices Foundation, Chatham House, and the Centre of Governance and Human Rights at the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of Somali Public Agenda in Mogadishu and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies in Addis Ababa. 

Negotiations to establish AUSSOM have failed to re-think how the mission could make a more positive and valuable contribution to the country’s political trajectory