Peace force for Somalia

2005-01-06 21:07

Addis Ababa - The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) has agreed in principle the deployment of an AU Peace Support Mission in Somalia, it said in a statement on Thursday.

The PSC "accepts in principle the deployment of an AU Peace Support Mission in Somalia," said the statement released after the PSC met on Wednesday in Addis Ababa.

The PSC also approved "the establishment of an AU Advance Mission to be based in Nairobi that will ensure liaison" between the Somali government and other partners to "undertake preparatory steps for the deployment of an AU Peace Support Mission as soon as possible," the statement said.

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, elected last October 10 in Nairobi by a parliament also selected in the Kenyan capital, is still established there with the MPs, all yet to relocate to Mogadishu, because of insecurity in Somalia.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gedi is expected to name his government this week, also in Nairobi.

The PSC urged the Somali government "to effect appropriate arrangements and all such necessary legislative enactments, including security arrangement, in order to facilitate the deployment of the African Union Support Mission for Somalia."

The AU's statement did not give details on the force's size, scope, mandate or when it would be deployed.

- AFP