New York, Dec. 23 (Petra) - The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously decided to extend the mandate of the African Union Support Mission in Somalia until the end of next year.

In its resolution No. 2809, the Council reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s long-term commitment to holding elections based on the principle of one person, one vote.

The resolution encourages Somalia to take progressive steps toward implementing electoral systems that enjoy broad political support through inclusive and transparent processes at the local, state and federal levels, within achievable timelines.

It also called on the Somali federal government and federal member state governments to ensure that any disputes are resolved peacefully so that the electoral process can be implemented without further disruptions and to guarantee the holding of free and fair elections.

The African mission supports Somali authorities in their efforts to stabilize the country and combat armed groups.

//Petra// AF