Posted on 12/06/2006 9:48:30 PM PST by HAL9000
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution authorizing a regional peacekeeping force to be deployed in Somalia.The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States, Congo, Ghana and Tanzania, also eased the 1992 arms embargo on Somalia to facilitate the deployment of the peacekeeping force.
It authorized the 7-nation Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an east African group, and the African Union to establish "a protection and training mission in Somalia" for an initial period of six months.
The regional force would monitor progress made by both sides in implementing agreements reached in their dialogue, protect members as well as key infrastructure of the transitional government and train government forces.
The text also urged Somalia's transitional government and the Islamist faction to resume without delay peace talks on the basis of the agreements reached in Khartoum.
The resolution also warned of Security Council action against those who seek to block the peace process or attempts to overthrow the government by force.
Somalia has been without a functioning central authority since the 1991 ousting of strongman Mohamed Siad Barre and the two-year-old transitional government has been unable to assert control across the nation of about 10 million people.
The lack of progress in peace talks between the government and the Union of Islamic Courts, which controls the capital, Mogadishu, has mounted concerns of the international community. Peace talks between the two warring sides collapsed last month.
Oh yeah, that'll work....
Hide the girls, and probably the boys too..
The pedophiles and rapists are on the way..
Semper Fi
We'll be seeing IGAD vehicles in the news for the next generation or so.
Oh hey, this will fix the problem...
The UN comes in to save the World!
Without the mandate to kill and with no oversight, they are not going to accomplish squat. That's why Pres. Bush the elder send in the Marines, a 100 times more reliable and effective than United smurfs.
And they ain't the smurfs you know.
"The resolution also advises Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts to halt military expansion and negotiate with the transitional government, threatening unspecified action against those who try to oust the fragile government seated in southern Somalia led by President Abdulahi Yusuf."
http://allafrica.com/stories/200612070096.html
"The Profile of the Council of Somali Islamic Courts, by Matt Bryden, a consultant with the ICG on Somalia, portrays the Islamic Courts as well organised outfits that, contrary to popular opinion, have a well thought out military strategy for taking control of and restoring order in a country characterised by 15 years of anarchy... Initially, the courts operated merely as a community response to lawlessness and violence in much of southern Somalia. Largely unknown then, most Islamic courts were started along clan lines, were headed by a respected local Sheikh, and supported by leading business people within the communities. The Islamic Courts have a well thought out campaign of not only restoring hope in the country but also ensuring that they gain monopoly in the use of force. For instance, Bryden says, each time they secure victory over militias loyal to warlords, they not only acquire the heavy weapons and vehicles of the enemy, but also ensure that their forces attain military dominance in an area, they maintain a low profile but are able to respond rapidly to any threat. 'As a result, no other group - whether clan-based, commercial or factional - is able to muster sufficient arms to successfully challenge the courts.' He adds that they are also not vindictive to their captives and usually invite them to join their ranks or to support their programmes. Once they accept the offer, the militias are then sent to training camps 'for re-orientation and further training.'"
http://allafrica.com/stories/200612051026.html
Another UN disaster in the making:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/08/wsomali08.xml
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