|
UNITED NATIONS, New York,
January 17, 2009 – The United Nations Security Council unanimously
adopted a resolution Friday expressing its intention to establish a UN
peacekeeping force in Somalia, but putting off a decision for several
months in order to assess the volatile situation in the Horn of Africa
nation.
The resolution adopted by the council renewed the mandate of the African
Union force that is currently deployed in Somalia for six months. It
urged African nations to increase its troop strength from the current
2,600 to the 8,000 originally authorized.
Somalia is currently at a dangerous crossroads. The president resigned
in late December, saying he has lost control of most of the country to
Islamic insurgents. The Ethiopian troops who have been protecting the
fragile, UN-backed government are pulling out, leaving a dangerous power
vacuum. Islamic groups are starting to fight among themselves for power.
The African Union and the United States have been pushing for months for
a UN peacekeeping force, but finding troops for a multinational force
for Somalia has been difficult.
Ban Ki Moon, the UN secretary general, said last month he had asked at
least 50 nations and three international organizations to support the
council's request for a multinational force to stabilize Somalia and the
replies were "very lukewarm or negative."
Somalia has been beset by 18 years of anarchy, violence and an Islamic
insurgency that has killed thousands of civilians and sent hundreds of
thousands fleeing for their lives. Foreigners, journalists and
humanitarian workers are frequently abducted for ransoms, and the United
States fears the country could become a haven for Al Qaeda.
The resolution adopted Friday asks Ban in the April 15 report to develop
the mandate for a UN force including facilitating delivery of
humanitarian aid, monitoring a cease-fire and assisting "in supporting
the effective re-establishment and training of inclusive Somali security
forces, including military, police and judiciary."
The council made clear in the resolution that ultimately Somali security
forces "would assume full responsibility for providing security in
Somalia."
The resolution also asks the secretary general to establish a trust fund
to provide financial support for the African Union force until a UN
force is deployed, and to assist in restarting the training of a Somali
security force.
Source: The Associated Press
|
