By Anne Mugisa
and Frederick Womakuyu

THE UN envoy on Somalia has said there is no need to change the mandate of the African Union (AU) forces in Somalia from peace-keeping to enforcement.

Augustine Mahiga made the remarks during a deliberation by African leaders on changing the mandate, following increased attacks on unarmed civilians and the AMISOM forces in Mogadishu.

The AU leaders also discussed the security crisis in the Horn of Africa and its growing threat to the continent. This was in a closed session at the Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo in Kampala yesterday.

In their current mandate, the AMISOM can only defend themselves when attacked. However, if the change of mandate is approved, AMISOM will be able to hunt down al-Shabaab.

The African leaders noted that al-Shabaab is unwilling to negotiate peace and that their activities are threatening peace and development.

The AU also accused the UN and the international community of treating the Somali issue lightly.

They said the help the UN promised had delayed and that currently the AU is still waiting for five ‘elusive’ helicopters for use by the AMISOM in Somalia.

The chairman of the AU commission, Jean Ping, told journalists in Kampala recently that the AU was forced to take peace-keeping troops to Somalia following inaction from the UN.

He said more countries are to send troops to boost the strength of Burundi and Uganda troops in Somalia from 6,000 to over 10,000.

The US secretary of state for Africa, Johnnie Carson, who attended the closed session, said: “The problem of Somalia is not an internal issue, but a regional and international one.”

He cited the recent bombing in Kampala carried out by the al-Shabaab, which left over 80 people, and scores injured, and the piracy in the Indian Ocean.

He said the US will continue supporting the transitional government of Somalia and the AMISOM.

The UN and the European Union were asked to work more closely with the AU to ensure that peace comes to the Horn of Africa. Over 50 countries attended the meeting.

The Presidents who attended the meeting declined to comment on the issue, saying the final decision will be issued in a joint communiqué today.