Castro Posted January 31, 2007 An African Union summit aimed at securing troop commitments for a peacekeeping force for Somalia has ended without resolving the issue. Much of the second day of the AU summit was dominated by discussions on the need to urgently raise 8,000 troops. However Ghanaian President and new AU Chairman, John Kufuor, has said that only 4,000 of the required force has been pledged so far. Despite extensive discussions at the summit, the number firmly committed appears not to have increased, although pledges of logistical support have been made. Uganda, Nigeria and Burundi have pledged most of the troops so far, with an unknown number also committed by Ghana and Malawi. Zambia is also considering a contribution. The force is required to fill a vacuum when Ethiopian troops withdraw. Ethiopia, with the tacit support of the US, intervened in the Horn of Africa nation last month in an effort to oust Islamists who had ruled much of Somalia since June 2006. The challenge facing the proposed AU force was underlined yesterday when a series of blasts hit northern areas of the Somali capital Mogadishu. In response, Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf has said his government will shortly call a 'reconciliation conference' of clan, religious and political leaders to discuss the country's future. Europe, the US, the UN and Ethiopia have all called on Mr Yusuf to open up to as many factions as possible, particularly moderate Islamists and powerful clan leaders, in order to stabilise the country. The Somali President said his administration was 'committed to doing whatever is necessary to ensure that a credible and all-inclusive government is set up'. RTE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Castro Posted January 31, 2007 AU Summit Concludes With Failure of Raising 8,000 Peacekeepers for Somalia Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu) NEWS January 31, 2007 Posted to the web January 31, 2007 By Aweys Osman Yusuf Addis Ababa The African Union summit that concluded in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday has failed to raise the wanted number of peacekeepers for Somalia as Ethiopian troops in the country are leaving. Promises for a peacekeeping force of almost 8,000 have so far raised only half that number, with many countries nervous about committing soldiers to one of the world's most unsafe countries. "If African troops are not in place quickly, then there will be chaos. I call for the mobilization of African troops. We need 8,000 soldiers. Today we have hardly 4,000. We cannot simply wait for others to do the work in our place," said Alpha Oumar Konare, the African Union (AU) commissioner at the summit. Uganda, Nigeria and Malawi, which were the only countries in the continent that contributed troops for Somalia, were supplemented by Burundi during the AU summit. Burundi said it would send 1,000 troops for the peacekeeping mission in Somalia. Somali foreign minister, Ismail Hurra Buab, said he is confident many African countries will follow offering peacekeepers to the strife-torn country. Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian prime minister, said at the weekend that a third of his forces was withdrawing from Somalia. He called for the first AU troops to be deployed in Somalia by mid-February. The UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, who spoke at the meeting on Tuesday, called on the African countries to increase the number of peacekeepers to Somalia. John Kafour, the president of Ghana, who was elected as the African Union chairman, said the peacekeeping mission in Somalia would soon begin. During the meeting in Addis Ababa, Somali president Abdulahi Yusuf promised he would hold a national reconciliation conference in which clans and religious and traditional leaders would take part, so that the EU conditional funding for the African peacekeeping mission to Somalia should be released. Mr. Yusuf told journalists, "Anyone who wants peace is our citizen and we are ready to cooperate." The president did not specifically mention if the routed Islamists would be invited in the reconciliation process. All Africa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faarax-Brawn Posted January 31, 2007 98% of these AU leaders are as competent if not worse than the current leaders of the TFG. Political dialogue, Not troops will solve this issue. Get that Mr Kufar i mean Kufour!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alle-ubaahne Posted January 31, 2007 Allah (sw) has said in the Quran, "Taxsabuhum jamiican waquluubuhum shataa..." which translates as, 'you think they are united, but their minds are not..' Insha-Allah their disagreements will go to the point of violence and wars will be the next thing we see among themselves and we take advantage out of that by stabbing the stinking Ethiopians on the back! Ilaahow jabi Itoobiya oo naarta ku fogee c/laahi yuusuf iyo qabqablaasha saaxiibadiis ah, aamiin! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaylaani Posted January 31, 2007 More like RESTORING peace than keeping peace. That is very tough task for any one. African leaders know the political dynamics of Mogadishu and “Somalia” in general…simply death wish. I don’t think that is a commitment any one wants to make. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
