Peace Support Operations – African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia

UNOAU actively participates in pre-deployment verification for military contingents, and assessment for mission service for Individual Police Officers (IPOs), and assessment of operational capability for Formed Police Units (FPUs). These exercises are meant to evaluate the operational readiness, professional qualifications, and suitability of both military and police personnel in

support of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). It assesses the operational readiness, and the logistical, medical, and administrative preparedness to ensure that uniformed personnel are operationally ready to undertake mandated tasks.

Military

UNOAU supports the planning and management of AUPSOs and actively participates in the development of key operational documents like Concepts of Operations (CONOPs) and AU force generation processes, by ensuring that inspections and evaluation processes for mission enabling capabilities are align with AUSSOM requirements. In February 2026, UNOAU participated in the Joint Operational Assessment for AUSSOM, helping the AU refine mission requirements, operational priorities, and capability needs. Building on its broader mandate, UNOAU continues to provide the AU with technical expertise across all aspects of PSO planning, deployment, and management, including transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and AUSSOM, and offers surge planning capacity to the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) to facilitate coordination between AU structures, UN entities, host governments, and troop- and police-contributing countries. Through this sustained collaboration, The Office enhances AU decision-making, strengthens operational effectiveness, and ensures the overall readiness of personnel and units deployed to Somalia.

Police

UNOAU provides technical support to ATMIS and AUSSOM in development of core operational framework documents, including the Police CONOPS and the Police Mission Implementation Plan (MIP). It contributes to assessment missions, generating operational and strategic outputs that informs the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decisions on transition requirements, capability gaps, personnel, logistics, and financing needs. In addition, UNOAU supports police force generation and deployment through technical assistance in the selection and assessment of IPOs and FPUs. The Office equally participates in Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) negotiations involving newly identified Police Contributing Countries, the AUC, and UNSOS to facilitate deployment readiness and mission support arrangements. Also, UNOAU provided technical support in the development of the AU Police Roster which is expected to be available for use in current and future AU PSOs. The Office supports the review of the IPO pre-deployment training package for AUSSOM Police, contributing to the development of Police Appraisal Guidelines for Police in AU PSOs with AUSSOM as a pilot. It also sustains efforts to integrate gender-sensitive policing requirements across planning, force generation, deployment, and commands arrangements, while strengthening coordination under the AUSSOM–PCC framework.