Mozambique and Angola are to contribute in strengthening the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission of 6000 soldiers in Somalia (AMISOM) as the AU has decided to commit 2,000 more troops to fight the al-Qaeda proxy Al-Shabab on the ground, the state-run Radio Mozambique reported on Wednesday.
The official broadcaster said the decision follows a day after the president of Uganda Yoweri Museveni appealed to his colleagues at the 15th African Union summit to mobilize all of Africa against terrorism.
Radio Mozambique quotes the Ugandan army spokesman Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye as saying that the supranational force may now attack in a preventative manner the Al-Shabab Islamist insurgents in Somalia, under the new rules of engagement.
The just ended 15th African Union summit in Kampala has resolved to lay down more offensive rules of engagement for its troops posted in Mogadishu which before could open fire only as a response to an attack.
The AU, which has exclusive competence to give its troops the new rules of engagement, can also call for an adjustment of the mandate received from the United Nations (UN), and which runs out in January, unless a decision is taken on this point.
A mandate expressly given by the UN under Chapter VII of the Charter permits a peacekeeping force to “impose” peace and not just maintain it.
The AU summit decided to strengthen AMISOM, increasing its troops from 6,000 to 8,000 men and ask foreign countries to assist it in its mission with naval and air support.
The aim is to provide AMISOM with sufficient means of keeping distant the Al Shabab insurgents that threaten the capital Mogadishu while controlling much of southern and central Somalia.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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