Somalia: AMISON and OCHA Issue Guidelines for Civil-Military Coordination

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) together with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday (November 24) issued Somalia Country Specific Guidelines to govern civil-military coordination in Somalia.

The Somalia guidelines were launched at a ceremony attended by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and AMISOM Head of Mission, Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou, and the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Somalia, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Philippe Lazzarini. The guidelines establish agreed principles and practices for civil-military relations between AMISOM and humanitarian actors operating within the same environment in Somalia. Ambassador Sidikou underlined that the commitment of AMISOM was to provide a conducive environment for humanitarian assistance to reach the Somali people. "AMISOM", he said, "is mandated by the UN Security Council to provide a safe environment that facilitates timely delivery of humanitarian aid. This has been done and we will continue to provide all the necessary support to humanitarian agencies." Mr. Lazzarini said the guidelines would be very important in ensuring better structured relations and therefore allow more effective aid delivery. He said" "The relationship between humanitarian agencies and AMISOM is very important. These guidelines will ensure better, mutual, understanding and better implementation of our respective mandates."

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