[ 2011-04-12 ]

AU Mission in Somalia wants support from member states
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),
which is working to create peace and stability in
Somalia, on Sunday, expressed the need for more
support and cooperation from member-states.

Mr Wafula Wamunyinyi, Deputy Special
Representative of the Mission said many African
countries, especially countries in West Africa had
promised support “but the support is not
forthcoming”.

“Nigeria promised to send troops in 2007 but we
still do not have troops from Nigeria and Ghana
has also promised to send troops,” adding that,
the situation could be due to misinformation about
Somalia.

Mr Wamunyinyi made the call at the end of a
workshop organized for journalists across the sub
region, especially those from countries expected
to send troops, to inform them about the real
situation in Somalia.

Somalia has for the past 20 years been in crisis,
characterized by clans and war-lords, prompting
the African Union Peace and Security Council to
establish the AMISOM in January 2007.

Its mandate is to provide support to the Somalia
Transitional Federal Institutions in facilitating
the provision of humanitarian assistance and
creating conducive conditions for long-term
stability.

Mr Wamunyinyi said despite some successes achieved
by AMISOM, Somalia was still faced with a number
of challenges, pointing out that, the worrying
issue in Somalia now was about the transitional
period, which ends on 20th August this year,
“but there seem to be no appropriate political
arrangement to allow a seamless transition”.

He urged AU member-states to be more concerned
about the situation “of our brothers and sisters
in Somalia and help create a lasting peace in the
country”.

Major Barigye Ba-Hoku, Spokesman for the Military
Force in Somalia, reiterated the need for support
and urged the international community to help
Somalia with humanitarian assistance.

He said: “The rainy season is about to set in
and many of our Somali brothers and sisters are
living in tents just covered with cloth.”

Major Ba-Hoku said the sanitation and health
situation in Somalia currently cannot support the
whole population and there is an urgent need for
help.

Source - GNA

... go Back