UN delays withdrawal of peacekeeping force in Somalia The UN Security Council delayed Monday a demobilization plan for the peacekeeping mission in Somalia after finding that Somali security forces were not sufficiently trained to take over from the forces on the run.

] Some 1,000 troops of the 20,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) were due to leave at the end of October, but the Council unanimously adopted a resolution deferring their departure at the end of February.

AMISOM operates under the mandate of the Security Council and receives funding from the United Nations and the European Union.

In a letter to the Council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said cutting off AMISOM troops "were not realistic," noting that Somalia has suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history in October last year.

More than 500 people were killed in the center of Mogadishu The Council extended the authorization of the mission of AMISOM until May 31, 2019 and declared that it was not There would be no further delays in the withdrawal beyond February of next year.

The resolution drafted by the British Somali security forces should be strengthened "in order to take the lead in December 2021 by Somali security institutions".

Somalia is expected to hold elections in 2021 during which its national forces will be responsible for ensuring security.

Al-Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, but has also carried out attacks in neighboring Kenya, where troops have been deployed as part of AMISOM.