The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union reported that the decision to extend its mission was adopted by agreement with general consensus.

Following the PSC agreement, permanent decision-making body for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, the UN Security Council (UNSC) must give the go-ahead to the AMISOM mission in Somalia.

Media outlets reported that the African Union (AU) and UN initial plan was for AMISOM, a peace support operation with 22,000 forces on the ground, to withdraw from Somalia gradually in the coming days.

The decision to extend the AMISOM mission in Somalia coincides with preparations for holding presidential elections in the country.

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