UN urges increase in African peace force in Somalia

The UN Security Council has 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. That report was replying to a Council request to Ban to develop the mandate for a UN force that would include support for the flow of humanitarian aid, monitoring a ceasefire and assisting "in supporting the effective re-establishment and training of inclusive Somali security forces, including military, police and judiciary." Requesting Ban to continue to provide a logistical support package for AMISOM, the resolution the need for effective development of Somali security forces to ensure the country’s long-term security, and reiterates its call to Member States, regional, and international organizations to contribute generously and promptly to the UN trust fund for Somali security institutions. The Council urged the transitional authorities based in Mogadishu to increase their transparency and combat corruption to increase their legitimacy and credibility, and voiced grave concern at "the dire and worsening humanitarian situation" due to the drought and famine, which has already killed tens of thousands of people, threatened the lives of 750,000 others and put over 3.2 million more on the brink of starvation. It also voiced serious concern at increasing reports of conflict-related sexual violence and called on all parties to cease such abuses.