More African troops, please!
Jan 28, 2008
IT is almost one year since Uganda deployed 1,600 soldiers in Mogadishu as part of AMISOM, the African Union peace-keeping mission in Somalia. This newspaper was critical about the UPDF going in alone and at a time when the Somali government seemed not committed to talk to its opponents or restore b
IT is almost one year since Uganda deployed 1,600 soldiers in Mogadishu as part of AMISOM, the African Union peace-keeping mission in Somalia. This newspaper was critical about the UPDF going in alone and at a time when the Somali government seemed not committed to talk to its opponents or restore basic services.
Furthermore, Uganda risked getting embroiled in a regional war, with Ethiopia and Eritrea using Somalia as a battleground for their disagreements.
Almost one year later, the Ugandans have done a commendable job. They managed to stay out of most of the fighting between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian-backed government troops.
They have earned themselves a name of being disciplined, committed, neutral and caring. For thousands of sick, injured and displaced people, they represented a beacon of hope in the depth of their misery.
Apart from some isolated incidents in which Ugandan soldiers were injured and killed, they are generally respected by all sides in the conflict.
When Somali government soldiers were stealing and shipping out port equipment, the insurgents turned to nobody else but the Ugandan contingent to complain. The Somali government, too, has changed. The previous cabinet of 73 ministers, which was paralysed by infighting, has been replaced by a small but effective cabinet of 23.
The new team, headed by the Secretary General of the Red Crescent Society, is committed to restore order, promote reconciliation and provide humanitarian assistance.
Uganda cannot stabilise Somalia alone. The 800 Burundian soldiers who arrived recently are a welcome relief. But they are not equipped. And they are not sufficient.
Maj. Gen. Levi Karuhanga, the AMISOM force commander, reckons he needs 8,000 soldiers for Mogadishu alone, and 20,000 for the whole country.
The AU summit this week should not only focus on Kenya. It should seize this window of opportunity in the Horn of Africa to mobilise and send the remaining 6,000 troops. Let the AU leaders finally act on their declarations of African solidarity, instead of paying mere lip-service to it.
Furthermore, Uganda risked getting embroiled in a regional war, with Ethiopia and Eritrea using Somalia as a battleground for their disagreements.
Almost one year later, the Ugandans have done a commendable job. They managed to stay out of most of the fighting between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian-backed government troops.
They have earned themselves a name of being disciplined, committed, neutral and caring. For thousands of sick, injured and displaced people, they represented a beacon of hope in the depth of their misery.
Apart from some isolated incidents in which Ugandan soldiers were injured and killed, they are generally respected by all sides in the conflict.
When Somali government soldiers were stealing and shipping out port equipment, the insurgents turned to nobody else but the Ugandan contingent to complain. The Somali government, too, has changed. The previous cabinet of 73 ministers, which was paralysed by infighting, has been replaced by a small but effective cabinet of 23.
The new team, headed by the Secretary General of the Red Crescent Society, is committed to restore order, promote reconciliation and provide humanitarian assistance.
Uganda cannot stabilise Somalia alone. The 800 Burundian soldiers who arrived recently are a welcome relief. But they are not equipped. And they are not sufficient.
Maj. Gen. Levi Karuhanga, the AMISOM force commander, reckons he needs 8,000 soldiers for Mogadishu alone, and 20,000 for the whole country.
The AU summit this week should not only focus on Kenya. It should seize this window of opportunity in the Horn of Africa to mobilise and send the remaining 6,000 troops. Let the AU leaders finally act on their declarations of African solidarity, instead of paying mere lip-service to it.