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UNSC Approves African Protection Force in Somalia

The Ethiopian Herald (Addis Ababa)
NEWS
December 8, 2006
Posted to the web December 8, 2006

By ENA
Addis Ababa
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.


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