PSC/PR/COMM.(DXXI) Page 2 7. Stresses the need for continued efforts to further degrade the capabilities of Al Shabaab and, in this regard, looks forward to the convening of the 2nd meeting of the Heads of Intelligence and Security Services of the member countries of the East African Community (EAC) and of IGAD, scheduled to take place in Kampala, Uganda, from 14 to 15 July 2015, as part of the Djibouti Process on the Enhancement of Security Cooperation in East Africa, which, among other issues, will discuss ways and means of enhancing security cooperation in the fight against Al Shabaab; 8. Recalls resolution 2124(2013) adopted by the UN Security Council on 12 November 2013, authorizing the AU to increase AMISOM’s strength to a maximum of 22,126 uniformed personnel and requesting the UN Secretary-General to keep the situation in Somalia under continuous review, including progress being made against the benchmarks for the potential deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and the handover of security responsibilities to the national authorities; 9. Further recalls communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXII).Rev.1 adopted at its 462nd meeting held on 16 October 2014, requesting the Commission to undertake, in close coordination with the UN Secretariat, a joint review of AMISOM, especially the implementation of the Mission’s Concept of Operations (CONOPS), with a view to enhancing the planning and effectiveness of the joint SNA and AMISOM operations, as well as UN Security Council resolution 2182 (2014) adopted on 24 October 2014, requesting the Secretary-General to jointly review with the AU the impact of the temporary surge in AMISOM’s strength authorized by resolution 2124 (2013) and to set out recommendations on the next steps in AMISOM operations by 30 May 2015, taking into due consideration the political situation in Somalia; 10. Commends the AU and the UN for conducting a Joint Mission to Somalia, from 14 to 25 April 2015, to review the benchmarks for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and assess AMISOM, and underlines that this exercise is a further illustration of the close partnership between the AU and the UN, and offers useful lessons that could be applied in other situations of common interest; 11. Takes note of the findings of the Mission, in particular with respect to the continuing threat posed by Al Shabaab both to Somalia and to the rest of the region, and that, consequently, the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation at present would continue to be a high-risk option; 12. Endorses the recommendations made by the Joint Mission in order for AMISOM to implement, over the next 18 months, a security strategy aimed at creating a more conducive environment for the pursuit of the political process, in particular: (i) the extension of the surge in AMISOM strength and of the non-lethal support package for the SNA until the end of 2016, as authorized by Security Council resolution 2124 (2013); (ii) the gradual, structured and targeted reconfiguration, within the authorized ceiling, of AMISOM uniformed personnel, including: (a) the enhancement of the AMISOM police component, (b) the deployment of requisite capabilities