AU and UN agree joint task force to build Somalia peace

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

February 5, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United Nations – African Union task force for Somalia has agreed to jointly support the weak Somalia government in their efforts to restore peace and security to the war-torn East African country, after the transitional parliament extended its mandate by three years last week.

Senior officials from both the AU and UN held a meeting this week in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where they reviewed efforts to achieve peace, security and reconciliation in strife-torn Somalia.

Sudan Tribune has learnt that an agreement has been reached that the AU and UN will form a tripartite commission with the country’s interim government.

The joint commission in collaboration with other regional bodies will jointly be tasked in coordinating military and political strategies in Somalia.

The meeting has also reviewed progress made in other parts of the continent, including situations in Sudan.

Last year, the AU and UN launched joint task force on peace and security to step-up their partnership to prevent conflict, to work on peacekeeping and peace building and in maintaining security throughout the African continent.

During the African Union summit held last week, the union said it aimed to send 20,000 peacekeepers to Somalia. Addressing African leaders at the assembly, UN chief Ban ki-Moon called on African countries play their part in contributing troops to the requested additional 4,000 peace force.

After extending its own mandate by three years Somalia’s transitional parliament is expected to carry out huge reforms. The mandate of the 550-strong body had been due to expire alongside that of the transitional government (TFG) in August of this year.

According to the UN, Somalia is also facing a dire humanitarian crisis in which 3.2 million people, more than 40 percent of the population, is in need of aid.

(ST)