Security Council resolution 2710 (2023) [on extension of the authorizations of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) until 30 June 2024]
Symbol: S/RES/2710 (2023)
Date: 2023-11-15
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/78 [84] SOMALIA SITUATION
S/ X The situation in Somalia.
Subjects: African Union Transition Mission in Somalia|African Union|UN. Support Office in Somalia|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|SPECIAL MISSIONS|PEACEBUILDING|SOMALIA|SOMALIA SITUATION|SUPPORT SERVICES|MILITARY PERSONNEL
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALBANIA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: ECUADOR
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALTA
vote: yes
country: MOZAMBIQUE
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SWITZERLAND
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2710 (2023)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                15 November 2023




               Resolution 2710 (2023)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9477th meeting, on
               15 November 2023
                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling all its previous resolutions and statements of its President on the
               situation in Somalia,
                    Reaffirming its full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political
               independence and unity of Somalia,
                   Underscoring the importance of consolidating the peace and security gains
               made in Somalia,
                     Expressing grave concern that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to
               the peace, security and stability of Somalia and the region,
                     Condemning in the strongest possible terms terrorist attacks in Somalia and
               neighbouring states, expressing deep concern at the loss of life from these attacks and
               the risk to international forces, reiterating its determination to support comprehensive
               efforts to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab, and recalling that any measures
               taken to counter terrorism must comply with all obligations under international law,
                    Noting that the Somali Security Forces (SSF) and the African Union Transition
               Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) have achieved operational successes against
               Al-Shabaab, but Al-Shabaab continues to threaten military and civilian targets in
               Somalia and East Africa,
                  Acknowledging the effective completion of the Phase 1 drawdown of 2,000
               ATMIS personnel as outlined in the September 2023 Joint Technical Assessment,
                     Noting the request from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to extend
               Phase 2 of ATMIS and to delay the drawdown of 3,000 personnel until 31 December
               2023,
                    Further noting the African Union request, pursuant to the African Union Peace
               and Security Council Communique adopted at its 1177th Meeting held on
               30 September 2023, to extend Phase 2 of ATMIS and delay the drawdown of 3,000
               ATMIS personnel, until 31 December 2023, in response to Somalia’s request,
                    Recalling that the Joint Proposal submitted by the Secretary-General on 7 March
               2022 and paragraph 28 of resolution 2628 (2022) envisages further reductions to
               10,626 uniformed personnel, inclusive of a minimum number of 1 ,040 police
               personnel by the end of phase 3 (June 2024), and zero personnel, by the end of phase 4
               (December 2024) and noting that the African Union Peace and Security Council


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S/RES/2710 (2023)

               Communique adopted at its 1177th Meeting, reconfirmed its commitment to maintain
               the exit date of 31 December 2024 for ATMIS,
                    Recalling that performance and accountability underpin the success of any
               mandate, noting that the availability of operational equipment and financial resources
               could, among other factors affect the overall implementation of ATMIS’ mandate, and
               noting that ATMIS faces financial and equipment shortfalls,
                    Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter,

               ATMIS and UNSOS
                    1.    Recalls paragraph 22 of resolution 2628 (2022), as most recently extended
               by resolution 2687 (2023), and further extends its authorisations until 30 June 2024;
                     2.    Authorises the Member States of the African Union to deploy up to 17,626
               uniformed personnel, inclusive of 1,040 police personnel, to ATMIS until
               31 December 2023, and to complete the Phase 2 drawdown of 3,000 ATMIS personnel
               by this date and thereby amends paragraph 19 of resolution 2687 (2023);
                     3.    Authorises the Member States of the African Union to deploy up to 14,626
               uniformed personnel, inclusive of 1,040 police personnel from 1 January 2024 until
               30 June 2024 and to complete the Phase 3 drawdown of 4,000 ATMIS personnel by
               the latter date;
                     4.   Urges ATMIS and its Troop- and Police-Contributing Countries to work
               closely with the FGS and Somalia’s Federal Member States (FMS) to ensure that the
               Phase 3 drawdown is gradual and conducted in line with Somalia’s strategic needs,
               including progress with force generation, as well as taking into account the situation
               in Somalia and the importance of maintaining security and stability;
                     5.    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 UN Charter, and, in this regard, encourages the Secretary -General,
               African Union and Member States to continue efforts to explore in earnest funding
               arrangements for ATMIS, 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 secu re future
               funding arrangements for ATMIS;
                     6.    Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide a logistical support
               package, and, in consultation with the African Union and the FGS, to update the
               logistical support plan as appropriate, in full complia nce with the Human Rights Due
               Diligence Policy (HRDDP), through the United Nations Support Office in Somalia
               (UNSOS) for:
                          a.   United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM);
                          b.   ATMIS uniformed personnel in line with paragraphs 2 and 3 to this
                               resolution, and on the basis set out in paragraph 2 of resolution 2245
                               (2015); and
                          c.   up to 85 ATMIS civilians, to support ATMIS’ military and police
                               tasks and enhance coordination between the United Nations, African
                               Union and Somalia;
                    7.    Recalls paragraph 2 of resolution 2245 (2015) and decides to continue the
               provision outlined in subparagraphs (f) and (g) to cover 15,900 personnel, rising to
               18,900 personnel from 1 November 2023, from the Somali National Army or Somali
               National Police Force on joint or coordinated operations with ATMIS in full

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           compliance with HRDDP and agrees to consider increasing this number further by
           letter from the President of the Security Council, if UNSOS advises there is sufficient
           funds to do so;
                 8.   Welcomes the recent disbursement by the African Union Peace Fund to
           support ATMIS, and the continued financial support provided by the European Union
           and its Member States since the beginning of operations in Somalia in 2007, as well
           as the financial support provided by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
           Northern Ireland, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of India and the Peoples
           Republic of China, and the in-kind, technical and logistical support provided by the
           United States of America to ATMIS, and the contributions of all Member States to the
           peace and stability of Somalia;
                9.     Encourages the traditional donors to ATMIS to continue supporting
           ATMIS until its planned exit by 31 December 2024, and calls for the enlargement and
           diversification of the donor base to provide the necessary funding for ATMIS and for
           the UNSOS administered Somalia Trust Fund, and emphasises that additional support
           to ATMIS and Somalia will enable Somalia to bolster its fight against Al-Shabaab and
           improve peace and security in Somalia and the region;

           Maintaining momentum on the security transition
           Actions
                 10. Takes note of the planned security conference on 12 December 2023, calls
           on all international partners to participate, and encourages the FGS, in consultation
           with the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and international
           partners, to consider the requirements for continued international support to Somalia’s
           security, and greater Somali-ownership following ATMIS’ exit, with the objective of
           producing a detailed plan, with actionable and feasible objectives, timelines and
           resource requirements and encourages the Government of Somalia to present a
           proposal for post-ATMIS security arrangements to the Security Council by 31 March
           2024;
                11. Requests the FGS and the African Union, in consultation with the United
           Nations, the European Union and international partners, to conduct a joint technical
           assessment by 31 March 2024 to evaluate Phase 2 drawdown and identify lessons, as
           well as the implications of the revised National Security Architecture and force
           generation, to inform planning for the remaining phases of ATMIS drawdown;
                 12. Requests an update by 30 April 2024 from the African Union and the FGS
           on their preparations for Phase 3 drawdown of 4,000 troops by 30 June 2024, taking
           into account the lessons identified from Phases 1 and 2, and s etting out a clear plan
           and timescale for Phase 3 drawdown;
                 13. Recalls paragraph 45 of resolution 2687 (2023), and expresses its intention
           to commission a strategic review of UNSOS, through a letter from its President, after
           the completion of the actions set out in paragraphs 10–11;
                 14. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly
           informed on the implementation of this resolution in their reg ular reports requested
           in paragraph 14 of resolution 2705 (2023) and requests these reports contain updates
           on capacity-building in Somalia, and, in full consultation with the FGS and FMS,
           make recommendations to the Security Council on capacity -building requirements as
           necessary;
                 15. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter and review this resolution
           no later than 30 June 2024.



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