Security Council calls for an increase to AMISOM Thursday, 23 February 2012 12:06 Regional >>> .The Security Council today called on the African Union (AU) to increase the size of its peacekeeping force in Somalia (AMISOM) by almost 50 per cent to deal with continued insecurity in the impoverished country.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body requested that AMISOM increase the number of its troops and police officers from 12,000 to a maximum of 17,731, and also decided to both expand the UN's logistical support package to the force and extend it through 31 October. The Council stressed that coordinated action in the region is critical for the peace, security and stability of Somalia and called on other AU member States to consider contributing troops to AMISOM to help create the conditions so that Somalia can be responsible for its own security. Since 2007, AMISOM has been trying to bring peace to a country that has had no functioning central government for the past 20 years, during which it has been torn apart by factional fighting and has faced a series of humanitarian crises. The UN Department of Field Support (DFS) provides logistical support to the AMISOM operation. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the Council's decision this afternoon, stressing the expansion is critical to provide support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and degrade the insurgency's military capabilities across the country. In a message issued by his spokesperson, Ban Ki Moon also underlined that military gains need to be consolidated through continued progress by Somalia's political leaders in the implementation of the roadmap for ending the transition, which is the basis for lasting peace and stability in the country. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
