               United Nations                                                                       S/RES/2568 (2021)
               Security Council                                                   Distr.: General
                                                                                12 March 2021

               Resolution 2568 (2021)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 12 March 2021

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling all its previous resolutions and statements of its President on the
               situation in Somalia,
                    Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political
               independence, and unity of Somalia,
                    Welcoming the response of the international community to address instability
               and insecurity in Somalia, and commending the African Union’s leadership of this
               response,
                    Welcoming the progress achieved in Somalia so far, and commending the Somali
               people, the Somali authorities, the African Union, the African Union Mission in
               Somalia (AMISOM) and its troop contributing countries, the United Nations and
               Somalia’s other international partners for their role in this,
                     Reiterating that the immediate and pressing threat to the stability and security
               of Somalia, to the Somali people and to Somalia’s neighbours is posed by Al Shabaab
               and armed opposition groups, condemning in the strongest possible terms their attacks
               in Somalia and beyond, and expressing deep concern at the loss of civilian life from
               these attacks,
                     Paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by AMISOM and Somali
               Security Forces (SSF) personnel in the fight against Al Shabaab, and commending the
               contribution of AMISOM to building lasting peace and stability in Somalia,
                    Welcoming the support provided by the United Nations Support Office in
               Somalia (UNSOS) to AMISOM and the United Nations Assistance Mission in
               Somalia (UNSOM) and recognising the complementary work of the United Nations
               Panel of Experts for Somalia and the role of sanctions imposed by the United Nations
               Security Council, as, amongst other things, a non-military means of degrading Al
               Shabaab, and armed opposition groups,
                     Recognising that the situation in Somalia has evolved since it first authorised
               AMISOM 14 years ago, including the threat posed by Al Shabaab, further recognising
               that military action alone will not overcome this threat, reiterating the need, therefore,
               to pursue an approach that addresses stabilisation and governance challenges,
               including addressing gaps related to public administration, rule of law, combating
               organised crime, justice and law enforcement, and preventing and countering violent

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               extremism conducive to terrorism, alongside security sector reform and military
               operations, noting in this regard the potential of international cooperation and support
               for peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development in Somalia if
               provided in line with priorities defined by its government and further noting in this
               regard African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUPCRD)
               policy and the AUPCRD dedicated Centre in Cairo,
                     Recalling that the Somali authorities have the primary responsibility for
               ensuring security in their country, welcoming the FGS’s commitment to conduct joint
               operations with AMISOM in order to become the primary security provider in
               Somalia, but noting that Somalia is not yet in a position to take full responsibility for
               its own security and that degrading Al Shabaab and armed opposition groups and
               building and sustaining peace will therefore require continued regional and
               international collaboration and support, stressing that this support should be in-line
               with the direction provided by the Somalia,
                     Emphasising the importance of building the capacity of Somali forces and
               institutions so they are able to manage current and future threats, further emphasising
               the importance of effective coordination between the Federal Government of Somalia
               (FGS) and its Federal Member States (FMS) and international partners in order to
               ensure such capacity building is coherent and aligned with the direction provided by
               Somalia and enables the SSF to assume progressively greater responsibility for
               Somalia’s security,
                     Underlining the critical importance of the FGS and FMS reaching inclusive
               political agreements, expressing concern at the delays in finalising arrangements for
               elections in 2021 and urging them to organise free, fair, credible and inclusive
               elections, in line with the 17 September 2020 agreement, as soon as possible, further
               urging them to collaborate on security and other national priorities, noting the
               responsibilities of all parties to improve cooperation and engage in FGS-led
               discussions, and underscoring that full cooperation of all parties would advance
               progress on national priorities including the implementation of the National Security
               Architecture, revised Somalia Transition Plan, ensuring a fully functioning federal
               system and finalising the constitution as the legal and political foundation for
               Somalia’s government and institutions,
                     Recalling its resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions, recognising the
               important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in
               peacebuilding, and stressing the importance of their full, equal and meaningful
               participation and involvement in all efforts at all levels for the maintenance and
               promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decisionmaking and leadership with regard to conflict prevention and resolution as envisaged
               in the Somali Women’s Charter,
                     Condemning violations and abuses of human rights and violations of
               international humanitarian law in Somalia, calling on all parties to act in full
               compliance with their obligations under international human rights law and
               international humanitarian law, and recalling the Working Group Conclusions on
               Children and Armed Conflict in Somalia (S/AC.51/2020/6),
                     Expressing serious concern at the humanitarian situation in Somalia and the
               impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and the desert locust upsurge recognising
               that these present a challenge to Somalia’s health system, agriculture, socio-economic
               situation and humanitarian situation, calling for all parties to the conflict to allow and
               facilitate, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law, including
               applicable international humanitarian law, and in a manner consistent with the United
               Nations guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance, including
               humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, the provision of humanitarian

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           assistance necessary to support Somalia, noting with appreciation the measures taken
           by AMISOM and the United Nations to ensure the safety and security of AMISOM
           and United Nations personnel whilst maintaining continuity of operations, calling for
           continued efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and locust-infestation, and
           welcoming the role played by AMISOM in supporting Somali-led disaster
           management and relief efforts and their efforts to create conditions conducive to the
           delivery of humanitarian assistance,
                 Emphasising the need for adequate risk assessment and risk management
           strategies by the FGS and the United Nations, of climate change, other ecological
           changes, natural disasters and other factors on the stability of Somalia,
                 Taking note of the United Nations mandated (resolutions 2520 (2020), 2472
           (2019)) Independent Assessment of International Support to the Whole Security
           Environment in Somalia Post-2021 (Independent Assessment) and its
           recommendations, reaffirming paragraph 1 of resolution 2520 (2020) welcomes the
           revised Somalia Transition Plan (STP) (2021), as formally transmitted to the Afr ican
           Union and the United Nations in February 2021 and urging Somalia, through the
           Security and Justice Committee, and the African Union, through the Peace and
           Security Council to finalise its endorsement without delay, expressing its full support
           for Somalia’s desire to lead the security transition process, further noting the African
           Union Peace and Security Council’s communiqué of 9 February 2021 on the situation
           in Somalia, and the Secretary-General’s report of 17 February 2021 (S/2021/113) on
           the situation in Somalia and looking forward to the African Union’s independent
           assessment of AMISOM due in May 2021,
                 Recognising its objective of transferring responsibility for security to Somali
           authorities, with the aim of Somalia taking the lead in 2021, and achieving full
           responsibility by the end of 2023, requires a phased approach and that this resolution
           starts a process which will be informed by:
                (a)   the UN mandated Independent Assessment, published in January 2021;
                (b)   the STP, published in February 2021;
                (c)   the African Union’s planned independent assessment due in May 2021;
                (d) the African Union Peace and Security Council’s decisions also due in May
           2021, the completion of a revised, joint, African Union-FGS Concept of Operations,
           in August 2021 as mandated in paragraph 8 of this resolution;
                (e) the Secretary-General’s presentation of a proposal for a new mission from
           2022, in September 2021 as mandated in paragraph 9 of this resolution and jointly
           produced by the Secretary-General with the African Union and in consultation with
           the FGS and donors; and
                 (f) the Secretary-General’s presentation of options for continuing United
           Nations logistical support in October 2021, as mandated in paragraph 21 of thi s
           resolution;
                and stressing the need for constructive engagement from all relevant
           stakeholders in these activities,
                Determining that the situation in Somalia continues to constitute a threat to
           regional and international peace and security,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                                                      *
                1.    Reiterates its aspiration that Somalia should be responsible for its own
           security, emphasises that the FGS should lead the security transition process and it

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               should effectively start in 2021, welcomes in this regard the STP urges the FGS and
               FMS to fully implement their commitments and further urges Somalia’s international
               partners to support Somalia in fulfilling these commitments, including by ensuring
               AMISOM’s strategic tasks and priorities support the transition to Somali
               responsibility for security;
                     2.   Recognises the role of the African Union Peace and Security Council,
               takes note of its request that the African Union Commission finalise its independent
               assessment to report in May 2021 and urges it to mandate in May 2021 an AMISOM
               that supports and enables the implementation of the STP and identifies and
               implements the necessary steps in 2021 in order to ensure continued delivery of
               support to Somali security efforts in 2022, including through a reconfigured African
               Union mission, from 2022 that is better able to face the changing threat posed by Al
               Shabaab and armed opposition groups, and is focussed on supporting and enabling
               the SSF to take primary responsibility for security;
                     3.   Reiterates that while Al Shabaab remains the most immediate and pressing
               security and stability threat to Somalia, it and armed opposition groups will not be
               defeated by military means alone, and in this regard, urges the FGS and FMS with
               the support of the African Union, the United Nations and international partners to
               work closer together to increase the delivery of non-military activities to address
               Al-Shabaab’s organised crime, illicit finance, access to and trafficking in small arms
               and light weapons, procurement, justice and propaganda activities;
                     4.    Underlines the need for Somalia and its partners to take a coordinated and
               cohesive approach towards Somali-led political and security reforms, with all joint
               operations, and strategic and operational decisions, including SSF force generation,
               to ensure transition of security responsibilities agreed between the Somali authorities,
               SSF, and AMISOM from the outset, in coordination with the United Nations and other
               international partners where appropriate, and therefore calls on:
                    (a) The FGS to lead strategic coordination through regular high-level
               meetings of the Somali Transition Plan Strategic Steering Committee supported by
               the Security and Justice Committee (formerly the Comprehensive Approach to
               Security Executive) and the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility
               Committee;
                      (b) The FGS, FMS, AMISOM, UNSOM, UNSOS, and international partners
               to increase coordination and collaboration, including by establishing a joint fus ion
               cell to plan and deliver integrated strategic operations led by the Somali Government,
               and with support from the African Union, the United Nations and Somalia’s security
               partners, and to conduct joint analysis, joint integrated planning, operational
               coordination and joint performance assessment noting that UNSOS has already
               constructed a suitable facility in Mogadishu and further calls on the FGS, FMS,
               AMISOM, UNSOM, UNSOS and international partners to extend the joint fusion cell
               into the AMISOM sectors;
                     (c) International and regional partners, in coordination with AMISOM,
               UNSOM and through the CAS, to continue to coordinate and better align their support
               with respect to mentoring, training, provision of equipment, capacity building of SSF,
               and remuneration of police and military forces of Somalia including through ensuring
               that all such support and assistance is appropriately notified as required by resolution
               2551 (2020);
                     5.   Underscores that the primary responsibility for protecting civilians lies
               with the Somali authorities, further underscores the importance of protecting civilians
               in accordance with international humanitarian law, underlines the need for Somalia
               and its international partners to take into account the security situation in each

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           location during transition of security responsibilities to Somalia, emphasises that
           planning and decision-making should be guided by a comprehensive assessment of
           the threat to civilians and that proactive measures to mitigate risks should be taken,
           including by establishing an appropriately-sized and qualified SSF presence to ensure
           continued security and protection before, during and after military action, and
           reaffirms the essential role of the police and justice sector in stabilisation efforts and
           the preparation and conduct of elections;

           AMISOM

           Objectives and functions
                 6.    Reiterates its objective of enabling Somalia, through support from
           AMISOM’s military, police and civilian components to take full responsibility for its
           security in the future, with the aim of Somalia taking the lead in 2021, and achieving
           full responsibility by the end of 2023 in line with the STP and taking into
           consideration the situation on the ground;
                7.    Recognises the need for a reconfigured African Union mission, from the
           beginning of 2022, which is focussed on enabling and supporting SSF to take primary
           responsibility for security;
                 8.    Requests the African Union and FGS to conduct a joint update to
           AMISOM’s Concept of Operations (CONOPS) in line with the STP up until the end
           of 2023 and in close collaboration with the FMS, United Nations and international
           partners, to be presented to the Security Council no later than the end of August 2021
           to help inform decisions about the size and shape of the future mission, including its
           logistical requirements and stresses that the size of the mission will decline over time
           as Somalia takes on greater security responsibilities;
                9.    Requests the Secretary-General, jointly with the African Union and in
           consultation with the FGS and donors, to produce a proposal on the strategic
           objectives, size and composition of a reconfigured African Union mission by the end
           of September 2021;
                 10. Decides to authorise the Member States of the African Union to maintain
           the deployment of 19,626 uniformed AMISOM personnel until 31 December 2021,
           inclusive of a minimum of 1,040 AMISOM police personnel including five Formed
           Police Units, as well as 70 AMISOM civilian personnel supported by the UN Support
           Office in Somalia to conduct tasks in line with the STP, and the phased handover of
           security to Somali security forces commencing in 2021;
                 11. Decides that AMISOM shall be authorised to take all necessary measures,
           in full compliance with participating States’ obligations under international law,
           including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in
           full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity
           of Somalia, to carry out its mandate;
                12. Decides to authorise AMISOM to pursue the following strategic
           objectives:
                (a) Reduce the threat posed by Al Shabaab and armed opposition groups with
           a view to enabling a stable, federal, sovereign and united Somalia;
                (b) Support actively the transfer of security responsibilities from AMISOM to
           the SSF by helping to build the capacity of the SSF through training and mentoring,
           by facilitating the handover of responsibility for security functions from AMISOM to
           Somali authorities in liberated areas, and by conducting jointly planned and agreed
           operations with the SSF with increasing emphasis on these being Somali -led;

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                    (c) Assist the FGS, FMS and SSF in providing security for the political
               process at all levels, including stabilisation efforts, reconciliation, and peacebuilding,
               and by providing relevant support to Somali police and civilian authorities;
                    13. Decides to authorise AMISOM to carry out the following functions to
               achieve these objectives:
                     (a) Noting paragraphs 2 and 8 in this resolution and working towards the
               operational timetables and objectives identified within the STP, maintain a presence
               in the sectors set out in the joint CONOPS, prioritising the population centres
               identified by the FGS and agreed by AMISOM;
                     (b) Conduct jointly-planned and targeted offensive operations with the SSF,
               to disrupt and degrade Al Shabaab and armed opposition groups, and to take actions
               to mitigate the threat posed by improvised explosive devices;
                     (c) Conduct jointly-planned, integrated operations with the SSF, in
               coordination with other international partners and stabilisation and reconciliation
               actors, to secure and recover areas from Al-Shabaab, and allow for the transfer of
               security responsibilities in these areas to the SSF when appropriate;
                     (d) Realign AMISOM sectors with FMS boundaries by the end of 2021,
               establish a joint planning Headquarters between AMISOM and the SSF in each
               sector/FMS, including to deploy where possible/appropriate multinational forces to
               these sectors;
                    (e) Provide mobile capabilities, assisting the SSF’s force posture to become
               more offensive with the objective of having one designated AMISOM mobile reserve
               per Sector, capable of acting as a Quick Reaction Force and operating across sector
               boundaries with other forces, by the end of August 2021;
                     (f) Contribute towards securing and maintaining main supply routes in
               collaboration with the SSF, including to areas recovered from Al Shabaab, and in
               coordination with stabilisation and reconciliation actors, in particular supply routes
               essential to improving the humanitarian situation, which may include commercial
               goods essential to meeting the basic needs of civilians, those critical for logistical
               support to AMISOM, and routes that support the delivery of the STP;
                     (g) Assist, as appropriate, the SSF to provide security support to enable the
               FGS and FMS to carry out their functions of government, including support by
               AMISOM’s civilian component to their efforts towards stabilisation coordinated with
               the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MoIFAR) and
               Community Recovery and Extension of State Authority and Accountability
               (CRESTA/A), reconciliation, peacebuilding, election preparation and provide support
               to enable the SSF to provide security for the process and other critical infrastructure;
                     (h) Protect, as appropriate, its personnel, facilities, installations, equipment
               and mission, and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel, as
               well as of United Nations personnel carrying out functions mandated by the Security
               Council;
                     (i) Receive defectors on a transitory basis, as appropriate, and in coordination
               with the United Nations and the FGS;
                     (j) Support and assist the FGS and the FMS in implementing the total ban on
               the export of charcoal from Somalia and the documentation and facilitation of the
               inspection of seized equipment including small arms and light weapons as requested
               in paragraph 18 of resolution 2111 (2013) and paragraph 6 of resolution 2182 (2014);
                     (k) Noting paragraphs 2, 6 and 12 of this resolution, further noting Somalia’s
               direction as set out in the STP, and paragraph 10 of the AU PSC communique of

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           9 February 2021, welcomes the envisaged reconfiguration of AMISOM so that it is
           focussed on enabling and supporting SSF and the protection of the UN in Somalia,
           and further authorises it to commence initial work to reconfigure in each Sector
           towards providing the following functions:
                (i) provide the following support functions for the SSF: countering IEDs,
                surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting, command and communications
                support, civil-military coordination, medical evacuation, engineering, and the
                establishment of a mobile quick reaction force for each sector;
                (ii) provide the following enabling support functions for the Somali Police
                Force (SPF) and civilian stabilisation and governance functions to support FGS
                and FMS efforts in institution and state-building, including: civilian and police
                planning and liaison, joint patrols, providing security escorts providing
                specialised investigation expertise and community policing support in a genderresponsive manner;
                (iii) Build the capacity of the SSF and SPF while ensuring coherence with
                international partners undertaking similar work, and focussing on: planning and
                managing integrated operations, countering IEDs, counter-terrorism operations,
                logistics, engineering, reconnaissance and surveillance, military communication
                and community policing;
                (iv) Mentor and assist SSF to ensure that trained SSF units are able to operate
                with AMISOM, including by conducting joint exercises and operational
                rehearsals, enabling SSF operations through mentoring of combat and combat
                support capabilities on operations and through delivering training and
                mentoring where necessary for Somali police;
                 14. Requests the African Union to continue to strengthen oversight and
           operational coordination among AMISOM contingents, strengthen command, control
           and accountability of the operationalisation of mission enabling units, including air
           assets, enabling the creation, operationalisation and deployment of mobile forces in
           the Sectors in line with AMISOM’s reconfiguration, ensure coordinated operational
           decision making under both the Sector and Force Commander;
                  15. Supports the African Union equipment reviews undertaken in 2019, urges
           the African Union to finalise its equipment review, in-line with the CONOPS review,
           and with United Nations support, taking into consideration Statement of Unit
           requirements (SURs), and within existing resources, in order to strengthen
           AMISOM’s operational capabilities, fill gaps in resource requirements, and enhance
           its force protection to carry out their mandated tasks, and further encourages Member
           States to support the African Union in mobilising the required resources and
           equipment, including through un-caveated financial contributions to the AMISOM
           Trust Fund based on deliverable recommendations set out in the equipment review;
                16. Urges the deployment of the remaining civilian component to provide full
           support to AMISOM’s military and police tasks for reconfiguration of AMISOM to
           support transition to SSF-led operations and drawdown;
                 17. Strongly underlines the continued importance of AMISOM forces carrying
           out their mandate in full compliance with participating states’ obligations under
           international law, including with regard to the protection of civilians, especially
           women and children, and of cooperating with UNSOM and UNSOS in implementing
           the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on United Nations support to Non -United
           Nations security forces (HRDDP) across the preparatory, conduct and review phases
           of operations, including in the context of joint operations with the SSF, calls upon
           AMISOM to undertake, and upon the African Union to ensure, regular monitoring
           and prompt and thorough investigations into and reporting on allegations of violations

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               and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international
               humanitarian law, as well as ensuring the highest standards of transparency, and
               conduct and discipline, and harmonisation of their procedures with UNSOM,
               welcomes the African Union’s progress on the development of a compliance
               framework, and urges troop- and police-contributing countries to strengthen their
               cooperation with the African Union and the United Nations to ensure the effectiveness
               of the AMISOM compliance and accountability measures;
                    18. Requests AMISOM to strengthen uniformity of reporting to the Civilian
               Casualty Tracking Analysis and Response Cell (CCTARC) across all of the sectors,
               and take further steps to ensure mitigation measures are in place, underlines the
               importance of ensuring information is shared with relevant actors including the
               United Nations, is integrated into AMISOM reporting, and feeds into operational
               guidelines and plans, and requests the full support of troop and police contributors to
               the CCTARC, in collaboration with humanitarian, human rights and protection actors;
                     19. Reaffirms the importance of AMISOM’s zero-tolerance policy on Sexual
               Exploitation and Abuse, and in this regard stresses the need to prevent such
               exploitation and abuse, requests the African Union and troop- and police-contributing
               countries to screen personnel, undertake risk assessments, deliver all relevant training
               to personnel, to protect and support the relief and recovery of survivors who report
               abuse, carry out timely investigations into allegations, to hold perpetrators
               accountable, and to repatriate units where there is credible evidence of widespread or
               systemic sexual exploitation or abuse by those units, and further requests the African
               Union to work closely with the United Nations in this regard;
                     20. Strongly encourages efforts to increase the percentage of female
               uniformed personnel deployed to AMISOM by the troop- and police- contributing
               countries, and urges AMISOM to ensure the full, effective and meaningful
               participation of women across its operations and to integrate a gender perspective
               throughout the delivery of its mandate;

               Logistical and financial support
                     21. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide a logistical support
               package in full compliance with HRDDP, through UNSOS for UNSOM, AMISOM
               uniformed personnel and 70 AMISOM civilians, on the basis set out in operative
               paragraph 2 of resolution 2245 (2015) and in line with paragraphs 10 and 11 in this
               resolution, and support to 13,900 SSF, including an appropriate share of the state and
               federal police who are formally integrated into the SSF in line with the National
               Security Architecture and who are actively participating in joint or coordinated
               operations with AMISOM that directly implement the STP, reiterates the importance
               of AMISOM and the SSF working jointly with UNSOS on the delivery of logistics
               support, including inter alia ensuring convoy and airfield security, protection of
               civilians and protecting main supply routes, further requests the Secretary-General to
               expand United Nations support to Somali security forces to include training,
               equipment and mentorship to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices
               (IEDs) and further requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with all relevant
               stakeholders, to present options for continuing United Nations logistical support from
               2022, to include continued UN support for UNSOM and to the SSF alongside a
               reconfigured African Union mission, for consideration by the Security Council by the
               end of October 2021;
                     22. Agrees with the Secretary-General that oversight and accountability, in
               particular compliance with HRDDP will be the cornerstone of the partnership between
               the United Nations, the African Union, the FGS and the FMSs, requests the Secretary-General to ensure that any support provided to non-United Nations security forces is

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           provided in strict compliance with the HRDDP, and requests the FGS and African
           Union to agree as a matter of urgency, a memorandum of understanding with the
           United Nations on the conditions of provision of United Nations support to SSF;
                 23. Requests the Secretary-General to work closely with the African Union in
           supporting the implementation of this resolution, including to provide technical and
           expert advice on the planning, deployment and strategic management of AMISOM in
           line with the mandate of the United Nations office to the African Union;
                24. Notes with appreciation the continued financial support to AMISOM,
           including from the European Union and urges new donors to provide support for:
                 (a) AMISOM, including through the provision of additional funding for troop
           stipends, equipment, and technical assistance for AMISOM, as recommended in the
           African Union/United Nations funding report and to support the effective functioning
           of the CCTARC and the disbursement of amends;
                 (b) The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of the African Union Mission
           to Somalia and SSF, including funding directed to training equipment and funding
           and mentoring of the SSF to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices, tackle
           the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and to support SPF as set out in
           paragraph 20;
                 (c) National and state-level institutions for the development of the Somali
           security sector, including capacity building for the maritime police force in line with
           resolution 2246 (2015);
                 25. Underlines the need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and
           flexibility of financing for African Union-led peace support operations authorised by
           the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority consistent with
           Chapter VIII of the Charter, and encourages the Secretary-General, African Union
           and Member States to continue efforts to explore in earnest funding arrangements for
           AMISOM, bearing in mind the full range of options available to the United Nations,
           African Union, the European Union, and to other partners, and considering the
           limitations of voluntary funding, in order to establish secure future funding
           arrangements for AMISOM;

           Somalia
                 26. Calls on the FGS and FMS to organise free, fair, credible and inclusive
           elections in line with the 17 September agreement without further delay, and urges
           the FGS and FMS to finalise political agreement to this end;
                27. Supports FGS efforts to reform its institutions and build capacity in the
           security sector, and takes note of the Mutual Accountability Framework for 2021
           (MAF), welcomes progress made on joint operations including Operation Badbaado,
           and reiterates the urgency and necessity of full cooperation between the FGS and its
           FMS in order to deliver its commitments;
                 28. Welcomes the STP, calls on the Somali authorities to work urgently to
           deliver it, with the coordinated support of the international community, in order to
           assume greater responsibility for national security in 2021, and to urgently develop
           and implement a strategic plan to generate new SSF, integrate existing forces where
           appropriate, and train and equip current and newly generated FGS and FMS forces
           with clear targets and timelines and, in this regard, calls on the FGS, working with
           the FMS, to set out a clear way forward on the process for Force Generation and
           integration of regional forces, prior to the development of the CONOPs, noting the
           need for enhanced capacity and capabilities of the SSF and calls further for the FGS
           and FMS to enhance civilian oversight of their security apparatus and to continue to

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               adopt and implement appropriate vetting procedures of all defence and security
               personnel, including human rights vetting;
                    29. Calls on the Somali authorities to ensure that they properly resource the
               delivery of the STP, including the command, control and coordination mechanisms
               required to enable the planning, conduct and delivery of joint operations with
               AMISOM at the strategic and operational levels;
                     30. Calls on the FGS and FMS to fully support the state and federal police
               through effective training, provision of equipment, and sustainment support,
               reiterates the critical role police play in securing and holding territory and emphasises
               that a professional and capable police force, able to contribute to providing security
               for civilian populations, is necessary for the FGS and FMS to fully implement the
               STP, and encourages more inclusive and representative SSF and SPF recruitment
               from all sections of Somali society;
                     31. Calls on the FGS and FMS, to ensure all security and police forces fully
               respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law and to
               ensure that those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights and violations
               of international humanitarian law are held accountable, further calls on the United
               Nations, African Union and other international partners to support the Somali
               authorities with this as appropriate and requests that AMISOM share the experience
               and lessons-learnt from the operation of CCTARC with national authorities, including
               with a view to supporting the development of Somali civilian casualty monitoring,
               mitigation, and prevention policies and mechanisms;
                     32. Calls upon the Somali authorities, in coordination with AMISOM,
               international partners, and relevant United Nations entities, including UNMAS, to
               combat the illicit trade, transfer, destabilising accumulation, and misuse of small arms
               and light weapons in all aspects, to prevent access of unauthorised recipients to all
               types of explosives and related materials in Somalia, and to ensure their safe and
               effective management and storage;
                     33. Calls upon the Somali authorities, in coordination with AMISOM,
               international partners, and relevant United Nations entities, including UNODC, to
               combat illicit financial flows and address Al Shabaab’s ability to generate revenue
               through organised crime operations;
                     34. Reaffirms the importance of the full, equal, meaningful and effective
               participation of all Somalis, including women, youth, persons with disabilities,
               Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees in the prevention and resolution of
               conflicts, reconciliation processes, peacebuilding and elections and other political
               processes, and acknowledges the significant contribution that civil society can make
               in this regard;
                     35. Calls on Somali authorities to work with relevant partners to ensure
               protection for all from sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual
               exploitation and abuse and conflict-related sexual violence, to take appropriate steps
               to investigate allegations, strengthen legislation to support accountability in line with
               relevant resolutions, and to accelerate the implementation of the Joint Communiqué
               and the National Action Plan to combat sexual violence in conflict;
                     36. Expresses its grave concern over reports of increased incidents of killing,
               maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence used against children in armed
               conflict as well as the continuing high levels of unlawful recruitment, re-recruitment,
               including in non-combatant roles, and use as well as abduction of children, calls on
               the Somali authorities to take action to prevent all forms of violence against children
               and to hold those responsible to account, calls upon the Somali authorities to take
               appropriate measures to prevent attacks against civilian infrastructures including

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           against schools and hospitals, and to prevent their military use, to cease detentions of
           all children on national security charges where this is in violation of applicable
           international law and instead to treat children primarily as victims, and further calls
           on the FGS to take action to fully implement their 2012 Action Plans, the 2014
           standard operating procedures for the handover of children separated from armed
           groups, the 2018 Roadmap and the Working Group Conclusions on Children and
           Armed Conflict in Somalia (S/AC.51/2020/6);
                 37. Reiterates its continued concern at the high number of refugees and IDPs,
           stresses that any evictions should be consistent with relevant national laws and
           international obligations, welcomes the FGS’ ratification of the African Union
           Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in
           Africa (Kampala Convention), stresses the importance the FGS fully implementing
           its provisions and calls on the FGS to make progress on its commitment to deliver
           protection, assistance and durable solutions for displaced persons in Somalia,
           including through the adoption of national legal frameworks for IDPs and refugees;
                38. Recalls its resolution 2417 (2018) and expresses grave concern at the
           ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia and its impact on the people of Somalia,
           encourages all partners including donors to maintain humanitarian assistance in 2021
           and to provide additional assistance to the broader COVID-19 response, strongly
           condemns indiscriminate attacks and attacks directed against humanitarian and
           medical personnel and civilian infrastructure, including by Al Shabaab, as well as any
           misuse or obstruction of humanitarian assistance, reiterates its demand that all parties
           allow, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law and in line with
           humanitarian principles, full, safe, rapid and unhindered access for the timely delivery
           of humanitarian assistance to persons in need across Somalia, and underlines the
           importance of proper accounting of international humanitarian support;

           Reporting
                 39. Requests the African Union to keep the Security Council informed every
           90 days, through the Secretary-General, on the implementation of AMISOM’s
           mandate, through no fewer than three, detailed written reports, with the first no later
           than 1 May 2021 and further requests in this regard, specific reporting on:
                (i) progress on joint operations in support of the STP including the use and
                effectiveness of coordination mechanisms;
                (ii) progress against revised objectives and functions set out in paragraphs 11
                and 12;
                (iii) accountability measures taken to address underperformance, including
                command and control, and conduct and discipline;
                (iv) measures taken to protect civilians;
                (v)    equipment review outcomes and use of force assets; and
                (vi) staffing of the civilian component, and encourages timely reporting to
                allow for the Council to take into account African Union perspectives on the
                situation in Somalia;
                40. Requests the FGS to update the Security Council on the status of the
           endorsement of the STP by 1 May 2021, and to report on its implementation by the
           end of October 2021;
                41. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly
           informed on the implementation of this resolution, in his regular reports requested in

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               paragraph 16 of resolution 2540 (2020) and in this regard further requests the
               Secretary-General to assess in his regular reports:
                    (i) implementation of the STP and MAF as referenced in paragraph 1 of this
                    resolution;
                    (ii)   implementation of HRDDP; and
                    (iii) UNSOS support to AMISOM, UNSOM and the Somali security forces;
                    42.    Reaffirms its intention to further review the configuration of AMISOM;
                    43.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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Security Council resolution 2568 (2021) [on authorization to the Member States of the African Union to maintain the deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 31 Dec. 2021]

African Union Mission in Somalia|UN. Support Office in Somalia|UN Assistance Mission in Somalia|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|SUPPORT SERVICES|INTERNAL SECURITY|SOMALIA|SOMALIA SITUATION


               United Nations                                                                        S/RES/2566 (2021)
               Security Council                                                    Distr.: General
                                                                                12 March 2021

               Resolution 2566 (2021)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 12 March 2021

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling all of its previous resolutions, statements of its President, and press
               statements on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR),
                     Expressing its grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the Central
               African Republic due to armed group attacks in advance of and following the election
               of 27 December 2020,
                    Condemning in the strongest terms violations of the Political Agreement on
               Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR (“The Peace Agreement”) and violence
               perpetrated by armed groups and other militias, including violence aiming at
               obstructing the electoral process, incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and
               violence, violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations
               and abuses, including those committed against children and those involving sexual
               and gender-based violence in conflict, as well as violence directed at civilians from
               specific communities, resulting in deaths, injuries and displacements,
                     Taking note of the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Central African
               Republic of 18 January 2021, ruling on the electoral challenges and proclaiming the
               election of President Touadéra, and calling on all stakeholders to respect the
               Constitutional Court’s decision, reaffirm their commitment to the cons olidation of
               democracy and the rule of law in the Central African Republic and contribute to a
               peaceful and credible conclusion of the electoral process,
                     Welcoming the roadmap for dialogue proposed by President Touadéra and
               calling for concrete steps from the government of the Central African Republic and
               all political actors to engage effectively in dialogue, resolve outstanding issues and
               conclude the electoral process through the organization of legislative and local
               elections, reiterating that only inclusive, free, fair, transparent, credible, peaceful and
               timely elections, undisturbed by disinformation and other forms of manipulation of
               information, can bring lasting stability to the CAR, including through the full, equal
               and meaningful participation of women, reaffirming the importance of the
               participation of the youth, and encouraging the CAR authorities, with the support of
               relevant partners, to promote the participation of internally displaced persons (IDPs)
               and refugees in accordance with the Constitution of the CAR,
                   Urging all signatory parties to the Peace Agreement to fully honour their
               commitments and join the path of dialogue and peace and stressing the urgent and

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               imperative need to end impunity in the CAR and to bring to justice perpetrators of
               violations of international humanitarian law and of violations and abuses of human
               rights, while encouraging the national authorities to continue their efforts to make the
               Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission operational,
                     Welcoming the communique of the African Union Peace and Security Council
               after its meeting on the CAR on 16 February 2021, also welcoming the meeting of
               Heads of States held in Luanda on 29 January 2021, and encouraging continued and
               coordinated mobilization of the region, in particular the Economic Community of
               Central African States (ECCAS) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes
               Region (ICGLR), aimed at strengthening dialogue, easing tensions and seeking
               concerted political solutions to the crisis,
                     Expressing serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation in the CAR
               and the consequences of the security situation on humanitarian access, condemning
               in the strongest terms increased attacks against humanitarian workers, emphasising
               the current humanitarian needs of more than half of the population of the country,
               including civilians under threat from violence, as well as the alarming situation of
               IDPs and refugees, welcoming the collaboration between MINUSCA, UN agencies,
               the African Union, the World Bank, technical and financial partners of the CAR and
               NGOs to support development and humanitarian efforts in the CAR and their
               adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated existing
               vulnerabilities, and calling on Member States and international and regional
               organisations to respond swiftly to the humanitarian needs identified in the
               humanitarian response plan through increased contributions and to ensure that all
               pledges are honoured in full and in a timely manner,
                     Stressing the valuable role of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in bringing
               strategic advice, providing observations for the Security Council’s consideration, and
               fostering a more coherent, coordinated and integrated approach to international
               peacebuilding efforts, and encouraging relevant partners to support the efforts of the
               CAR authorities through the National Strategy for Recovery and Peace Consolidation
               (RCPCA) to lay the foundation of durable peace in the CAR and sustainable
               development of all regions of the country, to boost peace dividends for the population
               and development projects, including critical investments in infrastructure,
                     Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, provocations and incitement to
               hatred and violence against MINUSCA and other international forces by armed
               groups or other perpetrators, paying tribute to the personnel of MINUSCA who
               sacrificed their lives in the service of peace, underlining that attacks targeting
               peacekeepers may constitute war crimes, calling on all parties to fully respect their
               obligations under international humanitarian law and urging the CAR authorities to
               work with MINUSCA to enhance the safety and security of MINUSCA’s personnel,
               including in line with resolution 2518 (2020), and to take all possible measures to
               arrest and prosecute perpetrators,
                     Taking note of the Report of the Secretary-General of 16 February 2021
               (S/2021/146), recommending an increase of 2,750 military and 940 police personnel,
               with the aim of enabling the Mission to enhance its capacity to prevent and reverse a
               further deterioration in the security situation while creating space for the political
               process to advance,
                     Reaffirming the basic principles of peacekeeping, such as consent of the parties,
               impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of the mandate,
               recognising that the mandate of each peacekeeping mission is specific to the need and
               situation of the country concerned, underlining that the mandates that it authorises
               are consistent with the basic principles, reiterating that the Security Council expects

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           full delivery of the mandates it authorises, and recalling in this regard its resolution
           2436 (2018),
                 Taking note of the request of the CAR authorities to lift the arms embargo and
           of the positions expressed by ECCAS and ICGLR, reiterating its readiness to r eview
           the arms embargo measures, through inter alia suspension or progressive lifting, in
           the light of progress achieved on the key benchmarks established by the Security
           Council, and stressing the need for the CAR authorities to ensure physical protection ,
           control, management, traceability, and accountability of weapons, ammunition and
           military equipment transferred to their control,
                 Determining that the situation in the CAR continues to constitute a threat to
           international peace and security in the region,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                1.   Decides to increase the authorized size of MINUSCA’s military
           component by 2,750 and to increase the authorized size of MINUSCA’s police
           component by 940, from the current levels authorized in paragraph 27 of resolution
           2552 (2020);
                 2.    Stresses that these reinforcements are aimed at enhancing MINUSCA’s
           ability to perform its priority mandated tasks in the current evolving context, in
           particular protection of civilians and facilitation of humanitarian access, and at
           enabling the Mission to enhance its capacity to prevent and reverse a further
           deterioration in the security situation while creating space for the political process to
           advance, further stresses that these new capabilities are not a substitute for the
           national authorities’ primary responsibility to advance the peace process and protect
           the population, notes that these reinforcements should be sequenced through a phased
           approach, recalls the importance of cooperation between MINUSCA and the CAR
           authorities in line with its mandate, and requests the Secretary-General to review
           implementation, performance and necessity ahead of each phase as part of the reports
           requested in paragraph 54 of resolution 2552 (2020) and to include in its report of
           11 October 2021 a proposal on the overall configuration of MINUSCA’s Force;
                3.  Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that decisions regarding
           deployment of all personnel to MINUSCA adhere to:
                (i) peacekeeping performance requirements under resolutions 2378 (2017)
                and 2436 (2018), including greater utilisation of the Peacekeeping Capability
                Readiness System (PCRS) to ensure the recruitment and retention of qualified
                uniformed personnel;
                (ii) implementing resolution 2518 (2020), including by taking all appropriate
                measures to enhance the safety and security of MINUSCA’s personnel;
                (iii) implementing resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on
                women, peace, and security, including by seeking to increase the number of
                women in MINUSCA in line with resolution 2538 (2020), and requests further
                that such deployment ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of
                women in all aspects of operations;
                (iv) the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse
                as well as to the provisions of resolution 2272 (2016);
                4.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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Security Council resolution 2566 (2021) [on increase of military and police personnel for the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)]

S/76 [227] UN MULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATION MISSION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
S/76 [181] CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC SITUATION
S/ X The situation in the Central African Republic.

UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC