closed-door African Union meeting on Somalia today reviewed the situation on the ground and strategised on ways to beef up the Amisom peacekeeping mission.
Following to meeting, the AU got a new pledge of two battalions of troops, totalling 1,700, one battalion each from Burundi and Sierra Leone.
So far, Amisom has 4,290 troops from Uganda and Burundi but the required number is 8,000.
The meeting in Addis Ababa was attended by the Defence ministers of troop contributing countries, the Somali Transitional Government Defence minister and United Nations secretary-general’s representative and other stakeholders.
The AU has also called on key Western diplomats to consult on how to speed up the release of the pledged $230 million at the Brussels meeting last month.
Top UN officials in Somalia believe that the renewed fighting in the country is associated with the illegal economic interest of individuals and groups.
UN special representative for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah said in Addis Ababa the suspects had attempted a coup against the Transitional Government of Somalia to realise their economic interests.
“A group of people travelled from abroad, landed in Somalia and mobilised forces to change the legitimate Somalia Government,” he said
“Various criminal groups own private ports, airports and clandestine import and export trading,” Mr Ahmedou added.
The African Union has said the recent attempt to topple the Somalia Government was averted by Somalia troops and the AU peacekeepers.
AU Peace and Security Commissioner Lamane Lamamran said the recent spate of violence by Islamist groups was backed by foreign forces.
According to Mr Lamamran, the Islamists managed to introduce heavy military equipment in the Somali conflict, but have so far failed in their ultimate goal.
“Now the situation is under control by Somalia Government,” Mr Lamamran said.
Source: Daily Nation
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