UNSC Approves African Protection Force in Somalia
December 8, 2006


The Security Council yesterday authorized the establishment of an African protection and training mission in Somalia to help defend the troubled country's Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), the UN News Service reported.

The new force, which is to be known as IGASOM, will be set up by the Africa Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African group, has an initial mandate of six months, according to a resolution adopted unanimously by the Council.

The Council said it was acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in authorizing the peacekeeping mission.

The mission is charged with: protecting members of the TFIs, including the government; training those institutions' security forces to provide their own security and help re-establish national security forces; maintaining security in Baidoa, where the TFIs are based; monitoring progress on dialogue between the TFIs and the Union of Islamic Courts; and ensuring the free movement and safety of all those involved in the dialogue process.

Under the resolution, the arms embargo on Somalia has been partially lifted to allow the supply of "weapons and military equipment and technical training and assistance intended solely for" the new force.

Council members also stressed that they consider the TFIs and the Transitional Federal Charter to "offer the only route to achieve peace and stability in Somalia," which has not had a functioning national government since the regime of Muhammad Siad Barre was toppled in 1991.

The resolution urged both sides to resume peace talks immediately, and warned that the Council would take action against anyone who tries to block peaceful dialogue or overthrow the TFIs by force.

Last week, Council members adopted a resolution condemning the recent spike in Somalia's weapons trade and extending the mandate by six months of a group of experts charged with monitoring the flow of arms.

Meanwhile, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) backed the United Nations Security Council resolution which passed yesterday to the deployment of peacekeeping force in Somalia.

Briefing journalists here yesterday, TFG Somalia Ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdikarim Farah said his government would support the deployment of peacekeeping force comprising 8,000 troops through the Africa Union.

The ambassador said the TFG is always ready to address the political differences in Somalia through dialogue with all parties to create a unified political administration in Somalia.

The deployment of the force would also play a crucial role to bring about peace and stability in Somalia as well as in the region.

Due to the absence of insufficient police and security forces in border areas, Abdikarim said various terrorists' groups have engaged in trafficking of arms and narcotic drugs.

The ambassador said the TFG appreciates the initiative of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) submitting a draft to the UN recommending the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia as it would strengthen the TFG's capacity.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald