UPDF deploy in Somalia
Jan 06, 2005
Forces are to deploy in Somalia as part of an African Union (AU) peacekeeping force to the war-torn country.
By Emmy Allio and Agencies Uganda People’s Defence Forces are to deploy in Somalia as part of an African Union (AU) peacekeeping force to the war-torn country.
Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza said the number of troops was not yet determined.
The AU said the decision was taken at the meeting of its Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, which voted to send in an AU peacekeeping mission.
AU yesterday said the first Ugandan troops were expected in Somalia by the end of the month.
Ba Assane of the AU’s conflict centre, said the organisation was assured of 2,000 troops.
“We will deploy the first part of the mission quickly because we already have 2,000 Ugandans. Uganda says they can deploy as soon as possible to protect the government there,†he said.
But defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa said the number of troops would be smaller. “Our President (Yoweri Museveni) suggested 200 soldiers,†she said.
Assane said, “The transitional government wants to move into Mogadishu by the end of January.
“If they keep their schedule, tentatively, they say by January 21 they want to go to Mogadishu.
“When they go in, we will have the mission or the first part of the mission to protect them.â€
Kenya said it would not send peacekeepers to Somalia because it was already burdened by US$10m it spent on Somalia peace talks.
East African regional co-operation minister John Koech told the press in Nairobi that Kenya might even spend more money to relocate the new Somali government to Mogadishu.
Somalia’s new President Abdullahi Yusuf had appealed to the 53-member AU to provide 15,000 to 20,000 peacekeepers to disarm militias and stabilise the state, which descended into chaos following military dictator Mohammed Siad Barre’s overthrow in 1991.
The council wants an advance mission to meet the transitional government to establish the exact requirements and timetable ahead of full deployment, Assane said.
Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki asked the new Somali government to return to Somalia to start the rebuilding exercise.
But the Somali leadership said security in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, was still fragile.
Ends
Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza said the number of troops was not yet determined.
The AU said the decision was taken at the meeting of its Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, which voted to send in an AU peacekeeping mission.
AU yesterday said the first Ugandan troops were expected in Somalia by the end of the month.
Ba Assane of the AU’s conflict centre, said the organisation was assured of 2,000 troops.
“We will deploy the first part of the mission quickly because we already have 2,000 Ugandans. Uganda says they can deploy as soon as possible to protect the government there,†he said.
But defence state minister Ruth Nankabirwa said the number of troops would be smaller. “Our President (Yoweri Museveni) suggested 200 soldiers,†she said.
Assane said, “The transitional government wants to move into Mogadishu by the end of January.
“If they keep their schedule, tentatively, they say by January 21 they want to go to Mogadishu.
“When they go in, we will have the mission or the first part of the mission to protect them.â€
Kenya said it would not send peacekeepers to Somalia because it was already burdened by US$10m it spent on Somalia peace talks.
East African regional co-operation minister John Koech told the press in Nairobi that Kenya might even spend more money to relocate the new Somali government to Mogadishu.
Somalia’s new President Abdullahi Yusuf had appealed to the 53-member AU to provide 15,000 to 20,000 peacekeepers to disarm militias and stabilise the state, which descended into chaos following military dictator Mohammed Siad Barre’s overthrow in 1991.
The council wants an advance mission to meet the transitional government to establish the exact requirements and timetable ahead of full deployment, Assane said.
Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki asked the new Somali government to return to Somalia to start the rebuilding exercise.
But the Somali leadership said security in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, was still fragile.
Ends