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By Daniel Ooko
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
NAIROBI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- African leaders on Wednesday called on the international community to provide more resources to enable the region deploy more peacekeepers to war-torn Somalia.
Speaking at an extra-ordinary summit of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Somalia in Nairobi, the leaders said out of 8,000 Africa Union peacekeeping troops that was approved for Somalia, about 3,400 forces were in the Horn of Africa country.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki noted the contribution made by the governments and people of Uganda and Burundi to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and urged other countries to expedite the deployment of more troops to help stabilize the war-torn nation.
"I must say that African countries and the global community have not done enough. AMISOM is currently operating below its anticipated strength capacity of 8,000 troops with only 3,413 currently deployed," Kibaki told leaders from Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and Somalia who attended the summit.
"I am therefore calling on Nigeria to expedite her pledge to deploy troops, to AMISOM to bolster its mandate," said Kibaki whose country hosted the protracted talks that led to the formation of the transitional government of Somalia in 2004.
He also blamed the international community for not doing enough in terms of providing adequate resources for peacekeeping and to the Somali government to fully implement its mandate.
"Kenya therefore appeals to the United Nations to step up and honor its mandate of maintenance of international peace and security," he said.
Kibaki said the UN should take constructive steps in establishing a Hybrid UN-AMISOM Force as recommended by the International Contact Group on Somalia to rescue the peace process in that country.
"I would also like to appeal to the international community to honor their pledges towards the re-construction of Somalia. Indeed, the transitional government needs all the material support from countries that made pledges soon after the signing of the peace accord in Nairobi," he said.
"On our part, Kenya, in collaboration with our development partners will continue to discharge her international obligations towards maintenance of peace in Somalia," he said.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi expressed the regional body's determination to ensure that IGAD's revitalization will become a reality and enhance regional integration, promote peace and security in Somalia.
"We know the dangers of continued conflict in our region. This is indeed why we have committed ourselves to peace in Somalia ever since we helped the first broad-based peace conference in 1992. We have consistently supported all efforts to bring about an effective government in that country," said Zenawi.
He said the situation in Somalia remains volatile with the escalation of insurgents targeting humanitarian workers, peacekeepers as well as both local and foreign civilians
Since civil war broke out in 1991, militias loyal to clan and sub-clan-based factions have controlled different parts of the country, with no central authority to provide law and order or basic services to the population.
Source: Xinhua, Oct 29, 2008