On 7 March, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held its 1143rd meeting regarding the situation in Somalia and operations of the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The session received statements by the Permanent Representative of Tanzania and Chair of the AUPSC for March, Ambassador Innocent Shiyo; the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Bankole Adeoye; as well as by Representatives of Somalia, IGAD, and the European Union (EU). The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) to the AU and Head of UNOAU also addressed the session.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Innocent Shiyo paid tribute to ATMIS and the Somali Security Forces in combating the ongoing security threat posed by Al Shabaab.  While noting the progress made in the fight against the group, he also expressed concerns over the situation in Las Anod, calling for a peaceful resolution to the fighting. Commissioner Bankole, in his statement, highlighted the dire financial status of ATMIS, noting that the ‘AU alone can no longer absorb the financial shortfalls’. He furthermore indicated that ATMIS may consider proceeding with the drawdown of 2,000 troops, previously envisaged for the end of June, according to an earlier 1 April timeframe if the financial gap is not resolved.

The SRSG UNOAU in his address to the AUPSC, inter alia, drew attention to the progress made and the challenges that persist in Somalia, including the dire humanitarian situation, and called for continued solidarity with Somalia in its peacebuilding and state building efforts.