African Union Appeals to UN to Take Over Somali Peacekeeping Mission

The African Union (AU) Commission on Monday appealed to the United Nations to take over the operations of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The appeal was made after the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) convened a meeting on the situation in Somalia over the weekend at the Au headquarters in Addis Ababa.

“Council calls on the UN Security Council to fully assume its responsibilities by authorizing the early deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation that would take over from AMISOM and, in the meantime, the establishment of an international stabilization force as called for by the Djibouti Agreement,” the AU statement said.

AMISOM, deployed last year under the AU has around 2,600 Ugandan and Burundi peacekeeping forces that are currently supporting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, which is still fighting against Islamist insurgents.

The AU Council also strongly condemned the attacks perpetrated by armed elements against AMISOM and humanitarian aid workers, as well as all other acts of violence aimed at undermining the ongoing process in Somalia and furthering instability in the region as a whole.

Council appealed to the UN Security Council to take appropriate measures against all those bent on undermining the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia and stability in the region as a whole.

“Council expresses deep concern at the difficulties facing the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), in particular the (recent) resignation of a number of cabinet ministers, and its impact on the ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts,” the AU added.

It further appealed to the Somali leaders to show unity of purpose and take all steps required to enhance the cohesion of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) in order to consolidate the progress made following the Djibouti Agreement of 9 June 2008 and facilitate its early signature and implementation.

Source African Press Agency

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