UNOAU coordinates engagements to support AU Member States in Mine Action
In the first week of February, UNOAU coordinated engagements between Mine Action counterparts from the AU Defense and Security Division (AU DSD) and the non-profit organization, the HALO Trust, to facilitate support towards Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) capacity enhancement for AU Member States.
An agreement was reached to schedule a coordination meeting between the AU, UNOAU and the HALO Trust to further detail discussions on the matter. Concerns were raised over the significant increase in IED attacks in Somalia in the past weeks, which resulted in 79 casualties, including the deaths of five and injury of twenty-three AMISOM personnel. UNOAU reaffirmed its commitment to support the AU in moving forward with their proposed counter improvised explosive device (CIED) strategy, which is awaiting AU approval.