AU seeks stronger support on Somalia
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 29, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Jean Ping, held a working meeting with the representatives of the United Nations Security Council members (UNSC), the European Union (EU) and the League of Arab States (LAS) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as Chair of IGAD, Kenya, as Chair of the AU PSC on the current situation in Somalia and the steps undertaken by the AU and its partners in addressing it.
Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security, also participated in the meeting.
The Chairperson of the Commission emphasized to the Representatives that the
AU’s engagement in Somalia was anchored in fundamental principles of the AU
which, inter alia, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia,
recognize the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) as the legitimate government
of the Republic and the Djibouti Agreement as the sole basis for peace and
reconciliation in Somalia.
The Chairperson of the Commission and the Commissioner for Peace and Security
recalled to the Representatives his Report to the 15 October 2010, 245th Peace and
Security Council (PSC) meeting held at Ministerial level in Addis Ababa, which made
key recommendations and decisions for the consideration of the UNSC, among
which included the newly authorized 20,000 troop strength 1,680 police component
for AMISOM; an enhanced support package for AMISOM funded through UN
assessed contributions; payment of troop allowances at UN rates; imposing, in
response to the request by the AU and the region, a naval blockade and no-fly zone
over Somalia including helicopters; sanctions against anti peace elements and
entities; a holistic approach to fighting piracy and the UN deploying a peacekeeping
operation through the rehatting of AMISOM. These recommendations and decisions
of the PSC were presented to the UNSC on 21 October 2010, by the Commissioner
for Peace and Security on behalf of the PSC, and a UNSC resolution on the
proposals was expected in November and a UN General Assembly endorsement in
December.
The Chairperson of the Commission recalled the reasons and objective of the
appointment of former President, Jerry John Rawlings of Ghana as the AU’s High
Representative on Somalia in line with the July 2010 Kampala Assembly decision.
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Reference was also made to the AU Peace and Security Council and EU Committee
on Peace and Security meeting which took place in Brussels on 18 October 2010,
during which the latter was briefed about the AU’s decisions on Somalia and
collaboration with the UN and other partners.
In conclusion the Chairperson of the Commission reiterated the key elements of his
briefing and the clarifications thereto and appealed to the Representatives to carry
the AU’s message to their capitals as part of a concerted strategy to highlight the
situation in Somalia and the efforts being deployed towards its resolution. The
Chairperson opined that in this, his continuous engagement with the AU partners, he
would seek to bring on board in-coming members of the UN Security Council as well.
The Chairperson of the Commission thanked the troop contributing countries for their
sacrifices, the international community for its continued support and appealed to the
TFG to demonstrate commitment to peace and reconciliation by ending internal
feuding, elect a Prime Minister and have in place a government that will carry out
tasks envisaged in the Djibouti peace process.
SOURCE
African Union Commission (AUC)
