COI-Report-Somalia

EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central Somalia — Country overview — 29
1.4.6 AMISOM
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is a regional peace support mission set up by the Peace and Security
Council of the African Union with the full support of the United Nations. On 12 November 2013, in its Resolution
2124 (2013), the UN Security Council decided to extend the deployment of AMISOM to 31 October 2014 ( 128 ).
In addition, the UN Guard Unit, the 400-strong ‘defensive’ guard force of Ugandan troops, based at the heavily
fortified Mogadishu airport, is ‘mandated to protect UN staff and installations’ in the capital ( 129 ).
For more information on AMISOM and the United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU), see section 3.2.1.
1.4.7 National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)
Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) focuses on counterterrorism and serves as the
rapid‐reaction response force to terrorist attacks in Mogadishu. However, ‘interagency cooperation and information
sharing remained inadequate at all levels on counterterrorism issues, although this year’s appointment of a new
National Security Advisor and Council helped bridge some of the coordination gaps. Almost all Somali law enforcement
actions against terrorists and terrorist groups were reactive in nature.’ ( 130 )
For more information on the NISA, see section 3.2.4.
1.5 Education
1.5.1 Literacy and enrolment
According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), South/Central Somalia has the world’s lowest literacy rate:
only 19 per cent ( 131 ). UNICEF data shows that enrolment rates in Somalia are among the lowest in the world. In
addition, many children drop out of school early. The Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) for overall Somalia in 2011-2012
was 42 %, implying that 710 860 children out of an estimated 1.7 million of primary school aged children are enrolled
in school. While school attendance is 51 per cent in Somaliland and 43 per cent in Puntland, the percentage in South/
Central Somalia is lower ( 132 ).
According to the World Bank (2014), 22 % of girls and 34 % of boys were enrolled (31 % on average). Secondary school
participation is lower with 12 % for boys and 8 % for girls. Girls are less likely to attend school due to household
responsibilities and early marriages. Nearly 75 % of women between 15 and 24 years are illiterate - one of the
world’s highest levels of female illiteracy ( 133 ). However, according to a governmental radio source, the number of
girls enrolled in schools in the Central region Ximan and Xeeb has ‘dramatically increased’ in the past three years,
to reach more than 50 % in some schools ( 134 ).
Cultural conservatism, household chores and early marriage deprive many girls of school or cause them to drop out
of school early. More recently, however, parents, especially mothers, acknowledge the necessity of education and
( 128 ) UN Security Council, Security Council resolution 2124 (2013) [on the deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 31 Oct. 2014],
12 November 2013 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/52908e9e4.html) accessed 30 May 2014.
( 129 ) AFP, UN troops deploy in Somali capital to defend staff, 18 May 2014 (http://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/un‐troops‐deploy‐somali‐capital‐defend‐staff)
accessed 30 May 2014.
( 130 ) US Department of State, Country Report on Terrorism 2013 - Chapter 2 – Somalia, 30 April 2014 (http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/275199/391112_en.html)
accessed 27 May 2014.
( 131 ) UNDP, Millennium Development Goals – Achieve universal primary education, s.d. (http://www.so.undp.org/content/somalia/en/home/mdgoverview/
overview/mdg2/) accessed 6 May 2014.
( 132 ) UNICEF, The G2S Initiative: Educating for Resilience (2013‐2016), 2013 (http://www.unicef.org/somalia/SOM_resources_gotoschool.pdf) accessed 1 May 2014,
p. 7.
( 133 ) World Bank, Somalia Overview, last updated 4 April 2014 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/somalia/overview) accessed 12 May 2014.
( 134 ) Radio Ergo, More girls going to school in central Somalia, 18 March 2014 (http://www.radioergo.org/en/read.phparticle_id=1349) accessed 2 May 2014.