Boost peace force to Somalia, UN urges AU
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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)
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