Yemeni terror elements complicating Somali crisis, AU warns
The African Union (AU) warned Friday that the international community must step up its efforts to save Somalia from further ruin in 2010, saying the interests of the rest of the world would be at stake unless the emergence of Al Shabab and its links with Yemeni terrorists was tackled.
AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra said Friday time was running out for the international community to fully engage in finding a solution to the crisis in Somalia.
Somalia still lacks a fully functional government despite the extension of the mandate of the internationally-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which has been under intense attacks from terror eleme nts inside Somalia, led by Al Shabab, a group linked to Al Qaeda.
Security analysts in the Horn of Africa have often suspected the involvement in the fighting in Somalia of Al Qaeda elements operating from their haven in Yemen.
Similar suspicions - that Eritrea was aiding the flow of arms into Somalia - led to the UN Security Council's arms embargo and travel sanctions against the Eritrean government.
Somalia's TFG's mandate expires in October 2011, by which time a new government should be in place after an election conducted by the Somalis.
'We have to do everything within our power to make sure that the situation within Somalia is changed. More and more international community involvement is required in Somalia. They must understand the situation requires a stronger involvement of the international community,' Lamamra said.
Speaking after chairing a session of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting to discuss a report by the AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping on the situation in Somalia, Lamamra said the emergence of Al Shabab and its known links to the Al Qaeda terror network posed a greater threat to stability.
In his report, the the AU Commission Chairperson outlined the efforts undertaken to stabilize Somalia since June 2009, including the discussions in Sirte, Libya, which recommended the sanctions against Eritrea.
'We need to improve the security situation in Somalia and hope that 2010 would be better for Somalia in terms of security. The year 2009 was more challenging security-wise for the AU. We did what we were able to do, we laid a firm foundation for our actions in 2010,' Lamamra said.
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) came under severe attacks in Somalia in 2009, with the worst attack being recorded in September, leaving some nine troops from Uganda and Burundi dead after attackers attacked the AU base in Somalia with explosives.
Lamamra said the AU was working on improving the security of its peacekeepers, who required equipment and specialised training.
The AU is also training new units to be deployed to the AMISOM to enhance its effectiveness.
'In 2010, these additional units would be deployed to improve security in many parts of Somalia,' Ambassador Lamamra told reporters after the PSC meeting adjourned Friday.
AMISOM's mandate expires on 17 January and discussions are underway to extend the mandate by a further 12 months.
Addis Ababa - Pana 08/01/2010
Source: afriquejet.com
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