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UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until May 31, 2017, and set out key objectives for the peacekeeping operation in the Horn of Africa country, including "to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups."
In the new resolution, the 15-nation UN body decided to maintain AMISOM's troop deployment "up to a maximum level of 22,126."
The Security Council set out further strategic objectives for the mission regarding facilitating the Somali political process at all levels, as well as enabling stabilization efforts, reconciliation and peacebuilding in the war-torn country by providing security for the Somali people, the resolution said.
Under the resolution, the African Union Mission would enable the gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces contingent on abilities of the Somali security forces.
Among the "essential tasks" authorized by the Security Council, AMISOM is to engage with communities in the country's recovered areas and promoting understanding between AMISOM and local populations, to allow for longer term stabilisation by the UN Country Team and other actors.
A related "priority task" would be to secure key supply routes, including to areas recovered from Al-Shabaab, in particular those essential to improving the humanitarian situation, and those critical for AMISOM's logistical support, said the resolution.
Meanwhile, the resolution also underlined the importance of AMISOM forces carrying out their mandate in full compliance with their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law, and cooperating with the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) in implementing the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on UN support to Non-UN Security Forces (HRDDP).
The Security Council called on the African Union to investigate and report allegations of violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, as well as continuing to ensure the highest standards of transparency, and conduct and discipline, the resolution said.
AMISOM was created by the African Union's Peace and Security Council on Feb. 19, 2007 with an initial six-month mandate. On Feb. 21, 2007 the Security Council approved the mission's mandate, which was later renewed by the UN council. Enditem
