What is ATMIS and AUSSOM?

What is ATMIS and AUSSOM?

ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia):

ATMIS is a multidimensional mission (military, police, and civilian) authorized by the African Union and mandated by the United Nations Security Council. It replaces the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and is tasked with implementing the Somali Transition Plan (STP). The STP is a roadmap developed by Somalia and its partners to gradually transfer security responsibility from the African Union to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). ATMIS operates with a mandate to support Somali forces in stabilizing the country and combating terrorism.

AUSSOM (African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia):

AUSSOM is set to replace ATMIS once its mandate ends on December 31, 2024. AUSSOM will continue to support Somali forces and work to stabilize the nation. It is authorized to deploy up to 12,626 personnel, including 1,040 police officers, until June 2025. AUSSOM aims to fight terrorism and maintain security during this transitional period.

The mission is funded through a hybrid approach combining UN assessed contributions (75%) and African Union/partner contributions (25%).

Challenges with AUSSOM:

• Troop Participation: Notably, Burundi and Ethiopian troops will not participate in AUSSOM, mainly due to regional disputes.

• Ethiopia’s Dispute: Ethiopia has disagreements with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, and may not deploy troops, despite having strong ties with the region.

• US Concerns: The United States raised concerns over the mission’s funding distribution, which led to an abstention from voting in the UNSC.

What is Somalia’s Civil War?

Somalia’s civil war began in 1988 under President Siad Barre’s authoritarian regime, which collapsed in 1991, leading to a power vacuum and widespread chaos.

Fragmentation of Somalia:

• Somaliland declared independence in 1991, and Puntland declared partial autonomy in 1998, leading to the fragmentation of Somalia into regions controlled by various militias and armed groups.

Rise of Clannism:

• Somalia’s political instability is rooted in clannism, where loyalty to one’s clan or sub-clan often supersedes national unity. Somalia is divided into four main clans: Darod, Hawiye, Dir, and Rahanweyn.

• Clan rivalries have prevented effective governance, especially between the Federal Government and regional states, weakening peace efforts.

Peace Efforts and Challenges:

• Various efforts to establish a unified government, such as the Arta Declaration (2000) and Transitional Government efforts, were plagued by inefficiency, infighting, and corruption.

Rise of Al-Shabaab:

• In 2007, the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab emerged as a powerful force. Al-Shabaab is al-Qaeda’s strongest affiliate and seeks to overthrow the Federal Government of Somalia and impose a strict interpretation of Sharia law.

Al-Shabaab's goals include:

• Expelling foreign military presence.

• Establishing a Greater Somalia, which aims to unite ethnic Somalis across East Africa into one nation. This would include parts of Djibouti, Kenya, and Ethiopia (Ogaden region).

Al-Shabaab has been a significant force in escalating the conflict in Somalia and remains a major source of instability in the Horn of Africa.