Somalia Moves to Forefront on AU Summit Agenda
28 June, 2009 | By Peter Heinlein
(VOA)
-----------------------------------------------------
Fast-moving events in Somalia are propelling the Horn of Africa to
urgent status on the summit agenda. After his government declared an
emergency last week, Deputy Prime Minister Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan
flew to Addis Ababa to plead with Ethiopian and AU leaders for
enhanced military support.
Ethiopia pulled troops out of the besieged Somali capital, Mogadishu,
earlier this year and is reluctant to return without a strong mandate from
the international community.
The 5,000 strong African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM is
overstretched. It also lacks the mandate that would allow peacekeepers
to defend against an expected offensive by the radical rebel group al-
Shabab, which is trying to impose strict Islamic law, or Sharia, in a
country that practices a moderate brand of Islam.
Adan estimates that 2,000 foreign fighters are in Somalia to bolster al-
Shabab.
The deputy prime minister said that Somali President Sheikh Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed will plead at the summit for urgent reinforcements and a
more robust mandate for AMISOM, so it can confront the rebels head
on.
"To change the mandate from peacekeeping to peacemaking, it has to be
armed like a government, so they can defend themselves," said Adan.
Adan said that a summit vote of confidence would provide a desperately
needed boost for Somalis who are concerned that their under equipped
military is about to be overrun by a foreign force of hardline Islamic
militants.
"They will also have moral support; the people will have a positive view
on how the government is alive and is able to protect itself," he said.
"We have people to protect us, but we need help from the international
community to build."
AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra was quoted
from the summit site as saying the continental body fully supports the
Somali request for assistance. He told the PANA news agency that the
heads of state will consider all possibilities, including a call for direct
military intervention from friendly states in the region.
Both Kenya and Ethiopia are considering military intervention. Kenya's
foreign minister has been quoted as saying his country's army is on the
"highest alert ever" because of the tensions in Somalia.
In an acknowledgment of the severity of the crisis, the United States last
week confirmed that it is sending arms to the Mogadishu government,
and is stepping up the level of humanitarian aid. A State Department
spokesman said the money would help "repel the onslaught of extremist
forces intent on spoiling efforts to bring peace and stability to Somalia".
28 June, 2009 | By Peter Heinlein
(VOA)
-----------------------------------------------------
- Somali government's recent
declaration of a state of emergency
has moved the country's security
crisis to the top rank of items for
consideration at this week's African
Union summit. From AU
headquarters in Addis Ababa our
correspondent reports that summit
leaders will consider issuing a call
for direct military intervention.
Fast-moving events in Somalia are propelling the Horn of Africa to
urgent status on the summit agenda. After his government declared an
emergency last week, Deputy Prime Minister Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan
flew to Addis Ababa to plead with Ethiopian and AU leaders for
enhanced military support.
Ethiopia pulled troops out of the besieged Somali capital, Mogadishu,
earlier this year and is reluctant to return without a strong mandate from
the international community.
The 5,000 strong African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM is
overstretched. It also lacks the mandate that would allow peacekeepers
to defend against an expected offensive by the radical rebel group al-
Shabab, which is trying to impose strict Islamic law, or Sharia, in a
country that practices a moderate brand of Islam.
Adan estimates that 2,000 foreign fighters are in Somalia to bolster al-
Shabab.
The deputy prime minister said that Somali President Sheikh Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed will plead at the summit for urgent reinforcements and a
more robust mandate for AMISOM, so it can confront the rebels head
on.
"To change the mandate from peacekeeping to peacemaking, it has to be
armed like a government, so they can defend themselves," said Adan.
Adan said that a summit vote of confidence would provide a desperately
needed boost for Somalis who are concerned that their under equipped
military is about to be overrun by a foreign force of hardline Islamic
militants.
"They will also have moral support; the people will have a positive view
on how the government is alive and is able to protect itself," he said.
"We have people to protect us, but we need help from the international
community to build."
AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra was quoted
from the summit site as saying the continental body fully supports the
Somali request for assistance. He told the PANA news agency that the
heads of state will consider all possibilities, including a call for direct
military intervention from friendly states in the region.
Both Kenya and Ethiopia are considering military intervention. Kenya's
foreign minister has been quoted as saying his country's army is on the
"highest alert ever" because of the tensions in Somalia.
In an acknowledgment of the severity of the crisis, the United States last
week confirmed that it is sending arms to the Mogadishu government,
and is stepping up the level of humanitarian aid. A State Department
spokesman said the money would help "repel the onslaught of extremist
forces intent on spoiling efforts to bring peace and stability to Somalia".
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