30, September 2011 – The Security Council today called on the African Union (AU) to urgently increase the strength of its peacekeeping force in Somalia (AMISOM) to its mandated level of 12,000 to enable it to better carry out its United Nations-authorized mandate to stabilize the war-torn country.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body extended AMISOM’s authorization until 31 October 2012, and called on Member States and regional and international organizations to provide additional equipment, technical aid and funding to the enlarged force, which since 2007 has been trying to bring peace to a country that has had no functioning central government for the past 20 years, during which it has been torn apart by factional fighting.
AMISOM currently has some 8,000 troops on the ground and early last month Al-Shabaab Islamist militants withdrew from Mogadishu, the capital, under pressure from the force in what UN officials have called an “extraordinary moment” of opportunity for progress to strengthen the transitional authorities as they prepare to set up a permanent democratic government by next August.
The Council called for a more permanent and increasing UN presence in Somalia, particularly Mogadishu, noted that this placed additional security pressure on AMISOM, and urged collaboration with the AU to develop an appropriate guard force within AMISOM’s mandated levels to provide security, escort and protection services to personnel from the UN and the international community.
With regard to launching a UN peacekeeping operation it noted that any such decision would have to take into account conditions set out by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a report in April 2009, which include assurances of security for UN personnel and a political process that has gelled enough to permit the diverse political actors to agree on such a force. (Click here and read more..............).
Ramaasnews Desk
Hargeisa.
