African Union Appeals For More Troops In Somalia

African Union Appeals For More Troops In Somalia

The African Union (AU) has appealed to member states to contribute additional troops to strengthen the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The union said that additional troops would also help to create a local force as part of efforts to create a functioning government in the Horn of African nation.

Police to be strengthened

The AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), meeting for the first time to discuss the crisis in Somalia since the Kampala Summit of July 2010, called for the strengthening of the Somali national police force to deal with armed militants that have consistently carried out attacks against the government.

It also called on African countries to contribute troops to AMISOM to enable the force reach its authorised troop levels of 8,000 men.

AU said efforts to train a local police force for Somalia should be prioritised to give the government an upper hand in dealing with armed militants opposed to the formation of a government in Somalia.

Militancy has threatened governance

The Council called on President Sharif Ahmed to continue talks with militants and urged the TFG and the Ahlu Sunnah Waljamaa to implement an agreement reached in March this year to work together on battling Islamists seeking full control of Somalia.

President Sharif's government has been waging a war against hardened terrorists operating on Somali soil.

The Al Shabab militants have in recent times carried out attacks in Uganda to push authorities into pulling their troops out of Somalia and are strongly opposed to worldwide efforts to have a government in Somalia.

Lack of military equipment to enable rapid deployment of military has slowed efforts by the AU to get additional troops for Somalia.

PANA/Yinka