PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
AU security talks to discuss intensified Al Shabaab offensive
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union (AU) has renewed calls for the UN Security Council to authorise the deployment of 20,000 peacekeepers to Somalia in the wake of the recent victory against the Al Shabaab militants in Mogadishu.
AU has also called on the UN to take further steps to expand the support package being rendered to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in line with the requests contained in its Peace and Security Council (PSC) of 15 October, 2010.
“Such expansion will go a long way in enhancing the effectiveness of the mission and enable it to effectively implement its mandate,” AU Chief Jean Ping said in a statement congratulating the AMISOM for its victory in the battle for Mogadishu.
The PSC submitted a request for 20,000 peacekeeping troops in Somalia to help battle the Islamist militants but the UN approved 12,000 troops in 2010.
Some 9,000 troops have been deployed. The AU wants the AMISOM mandate changed into a UN mission and allowances applicable to the ‘blue-helmets paid.
The PSC made a raft of recommendations in an effort to pacify Somalia after the Al Shabaab militants attacked Kampala, Uganda, ahead of an AU Summit there.
The attack pushed the rest of the continent into an offensive against the Al Shabaab.
Ping said the success achieved by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces since February 2011 was a clear demonstration that defeating the extremist elements holding Somali people to ransom was within reach.
The AU has summoned key players in the Somali peace efforts to convene a security meeting in Addis Ababa on 17-18 August, 2011, to discuss the future of the peacekeeping mission.
The meeting followed a UN Security Council meeting in New York Wednesday, which discussed in detail the future of Somalia in the wake of the Al Shabaab pullout.
UN Envoy to Somalia Augustine Mahiga, told the Security Council the recent pullout of the Al Shabaab from Mogadishu had provided a unique opportunity and a set of very grave risks.
“There is a chance for real progress, if we can mobilize the support necessary to capitalize on this moment,” Mahiga said.
Mahiga, who heads the UN Political Office for Somalia, called on the council to authorize the deployment of a unit within AMISOM to provide security to UN staff.
“Although Al-Shabaab has described the retreat as only a tactical manoeuvre, the truth remains that Al-Shabaab has been compelled to retreat from Mogadishu,” Mahiga said.
Meanwhile, the Addis Ababa talks will bring together troop-contributing countries to AMISOM (actual and potential), IGAD, UN and the EU, to look at the achievements of the mission todate and the challenges ahead, the AU said in a statement.
The meeting will identify the concrete steps needed in the coming months in order to avail AMISOM with the support it needs to deal with the challenges at hand.
UN Security Council is expected to review resolution 1964 (2010), which authorized the AU to maintain the deployment of AMISOM until 30 September, 2011.
It was not immediately clear if the current talks are expected to lead to the UN takeover.
Mahiga told the Security Council the Somali government would deploy the police to guard areas recently vacated by the fleeing Al Shabaab.
The AU has also stepped up diplomatic pressure on the Security Council to approve the required air and maritime capabilities, enhance the AMISOM police component of 1,680, comprising 560 police experts on mission and eight formed police unit of 140 each and an enhanced civilian component.
The AU is also pushing for a naval blockade to prevent entry into Somalia of shipments of arms.
It expects to use the outcome of 17-18 August meeting to seek further commitments from the UN on Somalia.
-0- PANA AO/BOS 11Aug2011
AU has also called on the UN to take further steps to expand the support package being rendered to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in line with the requests contained in its Peace and Security Council (PSC) of 15 October, 2010.
“Such expansion will go a long way in enhancing the effectiveness of the mission and enable it to effectively implement its mandate,” AU Chief Jean Ping said in a statement congratulating the AMISOM for its victory in the battle for Mogadishu.
The PSC submitted a request for 20,000 peacekeeping troops in Somalia to help battle the Islamist militants but the UN approved 12,000 troops in 2010.
Some 9,000 troops have been deployed. The AU wants the AMISOM mandate changed into a UN mission and allowances applicable to the ‘blue-helmets paid.
The PSC made a raft of recommendations in an effort to pacify Somalia after the Al Shabaab militants attacked Kampala, Uganda, ahead of an AU Summit there.
The attack pushed the rest of the continent into an offensive against the Al Shabaab.
Ping said the success achieved by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces since February 2011 was a clear demonstration that defeating the extremist elements holding Somali people to ransom was within reach.
The AU has summoned key players in the Somali peace efforts to convene a security meeting in Addis Ababa on 17-18 August, 2011, to discuss the future of the peacekeeping mission.
The meeting followed a UN Security Council meeting in New York Wednesday, which discussed in detail the future of Somalia in the wake of the Al Shabaab pullout.
UN Envoy to Somalia Augustine Mahiga, told the Security Council the recent pullout of the Al Shabaab from Mogadishu had provided a unique opportunity and a set of very grave risks.
“There is a chance for real progress, if we can mobilize the support necessary to capitalize on this moment,” Mahiga said.
Mahiga, who heads the UN Political Office for Somalia, called on the council to authorize the deployment of a unit within AMISOM to provide security to UN staff.
“Although Al-Shabaab has described the retreat as only a tactical manoeuvre, the truth remains that Al-Shabaab has been compelled to retreat from Mogadishu,” Mahiga said.
Meanwhile, the Addis Ababa talks will bring together troop-contributing countries to AMISOM (actual and potential), IGAD, UN and the EU, to look at the achievements of the mission todate and the challenges ahead, the AU said in a statement.
The meeting will identify the concrete steps needed in the coming months in order to avail AMISOM with the support it needs to deal with the challenges at hand.
UN Security Council is expected to review resolution 1964 (2010), which authorized the AU to maintain the deployment of AMISOM until 30 September, 2011.
It was not immediately clear if the current talks are expected to lead to the UN takeover.
Mahiga told the Security Council the Somali government would deploy the police to guard areas recently vacated by the fleeing Al Shabaab.
The AU has also stepped up diplomatic pressure on the Security Council to approve the required air and maritime capabilities, enhance the AMISOM police component of 1,680, comprising 560 police experts on mission and eight formed police unit of 140 each and an enhanced civilian component.
The AU is also pushing for a naval blockade to prevent entry into Somalia of shipments of arms.
It expects to use the outcome of 17-18 August meeting to seek further commitments from the UN on Somalia.
-0- PANA AO/BOS 11Aug2011
