The UN Security Council extended on Wednesday the African Union peacekeeping operations in Somalia until March, authorizing it to use “all necessary measures” to implement its mandate. The African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), with over 17,000 military and civilian personnel, will remain in Somalia until March 7 so it can continue to support diplomatic and reconciliation efforts by the elected government in Mogadishu and reduce the threats of al-Shabaab and other rebel forces. The mission, comprised mostly of African peacekeepers, was deployed in 2010 to counter terrorist threats in Somalia and support Mogadishu.