The African Union welcomes the decision of the United Nations Security Council to authorize the enhancement of the AU mission in Somalia and support to the Somali National Army

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 14, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, welcomes the adoption by the United Nations (UN) Security Council, on 12 November 2013, of resolution 2124 (2013) on Somalia.

The Chairperson of the Commission expresses AU's satisfaction at the decision of the Security Council to authorize an increase in the strength of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) from 17,731 to 22,126 uniformed personnel, as well as support to the Somali National Army (SNA), through an appropriate UN Trust Fund. The strengthening of AMISOM and support to the SNA will make it possible to resume and intensify the military campaign against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, expand the authority of the Federal Government of Somalia and facilitate the political process, which will culminate in the finalization and adoption of a federal Constitution and the holding of elections.

The Chairperson of the Commission stresses that the adoption of resolution 2124(2013) is a further illustration of the close and innovative partnership that the AU and the UN are endeavoring to build. The UN Security Council resolution followed the communiqué adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council, on 10 October 2013, on the Joint AU-UN Review of AMISOM and the benchmarking exercise. The Chairperson of the Commission expresses AU's profound gratitude to the members of the UN Security Council for their support and commitment to the achievement of lasting peace, security, stability and reconciliation in Somalia. She seizes this opportunity to also commend the European Union (EU) and AU bilateral partners, including the United Kindom and the United States of America, for their unwavering support to the AU's efforts in Somalia.

The Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, this afternoon, held consultations with the current troop/police-contributing countries to AMISOM, as well as with Ethiopia, to exchange views on how best to implement the relevant provisions of resolution 2124(2013), including the generation of the required troops and capabilities. The Commission intends to take a number of other steps in the coming weeks towards the implementation of the resolution.