Britain's resolution to strengthen Amisom in Somalia get UN nod

Vancouver Star Wednesday 22nd February, 2012

LONDON - The UN Security Council Thursday unanimously agreed to a resolution drafted by Britain to sizably increase in the strength of the African Union troops in Somalia and give them the mandate to tackle the Islamist militants, ahead of an international meet being held here.

The 15-nation council has voted to authorize raising the strength of AU force, also known as Amisom, from 12,000 to 17,700 and to substantially increase international funding for military action against Shabab Islamist militants who have recently joined the al-Qaida group.

As part of the strategy to tackle the militant menace, the Security Council has also ordered a ban on overseas trade of charcoal from Somalia to cut off a major source of revenue for the militant group.

"This is an important resolution, an important building block toward tomorrow's conference," Britain's UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said after the UN vote.

Over 40 governments and international organizations are expected to attend the conference being held here to chalk out a new strategy to sort out varied issues confronting Somalia.

Grant said the UN resolution authorizes a troop ceiling of 17,731 and expands AMISOM's operations to the Juba area in the south and Baidoa, a major base for al-Shabab in south-central Somalia which Ethiopian and Somali forces are trying to retake.

Increased funding will help Amisom to acquire services of nine utility helicopters and three attack helicopters.

"An expanded, better resourced AMISOM will help increase areas of stability in Somalia, it will help the political process in Somalia by enabling Somalis outside the capital to take part in the political and constitutional process, making that process more representative and legitimate," Grant said.

By expanding the area of Amisom operations beyond Mogadishu, Britain is hopeful it will put more pressure on al-Shabab, who have expanded their area of activities beyond Somalia in alliance with al-Qaida, leading to large scale exodus from the country as people flee to safer area.

Over 2.5 million people have so far been displaced due to rise in militant activities in Somalia.