Boost peace force to Somalia, UN urges AU
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
October 1, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – The UN Security Council on Friday urged the African Union (AU) to urgently boost the size of the African peace keeping force (AMISOM) in Somalia to its mandated level of 12,000 so it could effectively carry out its mission in the war-torn nation.
Currently AU has some 9,000 troops on the ground contributed from Uganda and Burundi helping the weak Somalia government fight against Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab Islamist militants.
“The African Union must urgently increase its force strength to its mandated level of 12,000 uniformed personnel, thereby enhancing its ability to carry out its mandate.” the UN Security Council said.
The council stressed a need for speedy deployment of additional troops from African countries to meet the ceiling of peace keeping force for AMISOM.
The African Union, which is struggling to stabilize the war-torn country, is hoping additional troops pledged from Burundi, Uganda, Djibouti, Republic of Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The 15-member UN body on Friday announced extending AMISOM’s mandate by one year, until 31 October 2012.
The UN council called on Member States and regional and international organizations to provide additional equipment, technical aid and finance to the AU peace keeping force,
Mandated by the African Union, AMISOM since 2007, has been supporting Somalia ensure long term security.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991. Al Shabab and other Islamist militias have been fighting Somalia’s transitional government since 2007.
Backed by the United Nations, AMISOM has been protecting government structures, training the security forces, escorting and protecting humanitarian groups from attacks.
The UN Council has also called for a more permanent and increased UN presence in the country, particularly in Mogadishu.
It was noted an increased UN presence had placed additional security pressure on AMISOM. The council urged collaboration with the AU to develop an appropriate guard force within AMISOM’s mandated levels to provide security, escorts and protection services to personnel from the UN and the international community.
(ST)