Representative_of_the_United_Nations_Secretary–General_for_Somalia,_Denmark,_as_co–Chair of_the_AU_Partner_Group,_Italy,_as_co–Chair_of_the_IGAD_Partner_Forum,_and_the_European_ Union_(EU)

COMMUNIQUÉ___

_ The_Peace_and_Security_Council_of_the_African_Union_(AU),_at_its_306^th_meeting_held on_5_January_2012,_adopted_the_following_decision_on_the_situation_in_Somalia:__ Council:_ _

1.Notes_the_recommendations_made_by_the_meeting_of_the_Ministers_of_Defence_of_the_ Troop_Contributing_Countries_(TCCs)_to_the_African_Union_Mission_in_Somalia_(AMISOM)_and other_interested_countries,_held_in_Addis_Ababa_on_4_January_2012,_regarding_the_Strategic Concept_for_future_AMISOM_operations_[CDS–Min_Def/TCCs/AMISOM.REC(I)],_as_well_as_the_ statements_made_by_the_AU_Commissioner_for_Peace_and_Security,_representatives_of_the_ Transitional_Federal_Government_(TFG)_of_Somalia,_Uganda,_as_AMISOM_TCC,_the_Special_

Representative_of_the_United_Nations_Secretary–General_for_Somalia,_Denmark,_as_co–Chair_of_the_AU_

Partner_Group,_Italy,_as_co–Chair_of_the_IGAD_Partner_Forum,_and_the_European_ Union_(EU);_ _

2.Recalls_its_earlier_communiqués_on_the_situation_in_Somalia,_in_particular_ communiqué_PSC/PR/COMM.3(CCLVIII),_adopted_at_its_258^th_meeting_held_on_20_January_ 2011,_in_which_it_decided_to_renew_the_mandate_of_AMISOM_for_an_additional_period_of_12months._

Council_also_recalls_its_communiqué_PSC/PR/COMM(CCCII)_and_press_statement_ PSC/PR/BR.(CCCV)_issued_at_its_302^nd_and_305^th_meetings_held_on_2_and_22_December_2011,_ respectively,_on_the_draft_Strategic_Concept_for_future_operations;__ _

3.Endorses_the_Strategic_Concept_for_future_AMISOM_operations_as_a_planning_tool_for_ enhancing_the_strength_of_AMISOM_and_furthering_the_gains_made_on_the_ground,_as_ reviewed_and_recommended_by_the_Ministers_of_Defence_of_the_TCCs_to_AMISOM_and_other_interested_

countries,_including:_

(i)the_increase_of_the_level_of_UN–supported_AMISOM_uniformed_personnel_from_

12,000_to_17,731,_including_5,700_from_the_Djiboutian_contingent_and_the_re–hatted_Kenyan_troops,_

as_well_as_AMISOM_police_component,__

(ii)the_deployment_by_Burundi_and_Uganda_of_additional_troops_to_reach_the_

currently_UN–authorized_strength_of_12,000,_with_the_understanding_that_the_ utilization_of_these_additional_troops_will_be_determined_on_the_basis_of_theneeds_in_

the_main_liberated_areas,__

(iii)the_insertion_of_AMISOM_troops_in_areas_liberated_with_the_support_of_Ethiopia,_

in_view_of_the_urgency_of_the_stated_intent_of_Ethiopia_to_withdraw_from_those_ areas,__

_ (iv)the_extension_of_AMISOM’s_area_of_responsibility_by_fast_tracking_the_insertion_

of_AMISOM_troops_in_all_the_liberated_areas,___

(v)the_provision_of_the_required_force_enablers_and_multipliers,_as_well_as_logistical_

support_to_other_components_of_AMISOM,_and_