AU urged to help disarm Somalia

2004-10-25 16:00

Addis Ababa - Newly-elected Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed on Monday asked the African Union to deploy up to 20 000 troops in his country to help disarm tens of thousands of factional fighters and restore stability to a state devastated by more than a decade of lawlessness.

"We are looking from the African Union for an African armed force, which is between 15 000 to 20 000 strong," Yusuf, who was elected by a transitional Somali parliament sitting in Nairobi on October 10, told a meeting of the AU's Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa.

"We estimate that there are two million pieces of armament, small and heavy artillery, in the hands of the people. In order to bring peace and reconciliation we need to disarm the people," added Yusuf, who has yet to return to Somali since his election victory.

- AFP