MOGADISHU, September 13 (AP) – The African Union will endorse an ambitious peacekeeping force for Somalia, despite fierce opposition from Islamic militants who control much of the country, a senior official said on Wednesday.
The 53-nation body has earmarked $19-million (about R140-million) for the mission, under which the first troops were to be deployed by the beginning of October, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Islamic militia that have seized control of Mogadishu and much of the rest of southern Somalia oppose foreign interference, while the country’s virtually powerless official government has appealed for outside help.
Franklin Espeela, Kenya’s ambassador to the AU, told The Associated Press the peacekeeping mission was critical to prevent the country sliding into further chaos.
“If we don’t do something now, then Somalia could further become a breeding ground for other extremist forces to rise up,” he said. “The situation needs to be gotten under control.”
On August 5 in Nairobi, Kenya, authorities from seven African countries endorsed a military plan to send about 3 500 Ugandan and Sudanese soldiers to the country.
AU officials from the body’s Peace and Security Council are meeting Wednesday at their headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to endorse the deployment, the official added.
But the peacekeeping mission, drawn up by the seven nation east African regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, is unlikely to become reality anytime soon.
The UN must lift an arms embargo on Somalia that has been in place for more than 10 years to allow peacekeepers to enter the country.
The mission is also expected to cost $34-million a month.
Somalia has not had an effective central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on one another, pulling the country into anarchy.
The current government was established two years ago with the support of the United Nations, but it has failed to assert any power outside its base in Baidoa, 250km from the capital, Mogadishu.
Source: AP, Sept 13, 2006
