UN urges Somalia to organise elections without delay

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) urged Somalia’s government on Friday to organise elections “without delay” in a resolution that stressed the pressing threat to the country’s security from al-Shabab and armed opposition groups. The resolution, which was adopted unanimously, authorised the African Union to maintain its nearly 20,000-strong force in Somalia until the end of the year with a mandate to reduce the threat from the extremist groups to enable “a stable, federal, sovereign and united Somalia.” The UN’s most powerful body said its objective is to transfer security to Somali authorities, with the aim of Somalia taking the lead in 2021 and achieving full responsibility by the end of 2023.