Assembly/AU/4(XII) Page 7 31. One of the major developments during the period under review relates to the decision of the Ethiopian Government to withdraw its troops from Somalia by the end of 2008, in line with the relevant provisions of the Djibouti Agreement. This withdrawal, which was completed in mid-January 2009, highlights the need to intensify the efforts being deployed towards enhancing AMISOM, whose mandated strength is 8,000 troops. Currently, the total strength of the Mission stands at 3,450 troops. Efforts also continue to be made towards the deployment of AMISOM police component and the generation of additional forces. Algeria and Egypt have pledged their logistical support, while both Uganda and Burundi have confirmed their readiness to contribute additional troops, provided the necessary financial and logistical support is mobilized. Efforts are being made with the Troop Contributing Countries and the international partners, including the United Nations, to mobilize additional resources with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of AMISOM and increasing the capabilities of the Somali police and para-military joint forces in Mogadishu. On 16 January 2009, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1863 (2008) through which, it, among others, expressed its intent to establish a UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia as a follow-up to AMISOM, subject to a further decision by 1st June 2009, and welcomed the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s letter of 19 December 2008. 32. The overall security situation in South Central Somalia has seriously deteriorated, with renewed fighting between the Alshabab and other armed groups, on the one hand, and the TFG forces, on the other. As a result of the prevailing insecurity, the humanitarian situation in Somalia remains precarious. The civilian population has paid a heavy toll due to the escalation of fighting during the past few months. There have also been renewed attacks against AMISOM and humanitarian workers. The period under review has also witnessed an increase in the acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, prompting a number of initiatives, including the adoption by the UN Security Council, on 2 December 2008, of resolution 1846(2008), which strengthened international efforts to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia. 33. The peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea continues to be characterized by a persisting impasse. As the Assembly will recall, in view of the lack of progress in overcoming the difficulties impeding the implementation of the April 2002 Delimitation Decision, the EEBC terminated its activities at the end of November 2007, and declared that the boundary was demarcated by the boundary points it listed. Eritrea declared the border demarcated by its acceptance of the EEBC ”virtual demarcation” decision, while Ethiopia rejected this decision, dismissing it as “legal fiction” and insisting on the need to physically demarcate the border on the ground. It also demanded that the legal sanctity of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) be restored and respected. 34. On 30 July 2008, the United Nations Security Council decided to terminate the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), with effect from 31st July 2008. The Security Council demanded that Ethiopia and Eritrea comply fully with their obligations, show maximum restraint and refrain from any threat or use of force against each other, and to avoid provocative military activities. The Security Council also expressed strong support to the efforts of the SecretaryGeneral and the international community to engage with Ethiopia and Eritrea to help them implement the Algiers Agreements, normalize their relations, promote stability