UN Security Council approves African Union peace keepers for Somalia
{{date|February 23, 2007}}
{{Article-audiobrief|filename=240207 2100 newsbrief.ogg|commonsurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/240207_2100_newsbrief.ogg|align=right}}
[[Image:LocationSomalia.png|right|thumb|200px|Location of Somalia.]]
[[Image:Somalia-CIA WFB Map.png|right|thumb|200px|Map of Somalia.]]

The [[United Nations|U.N.]] {{w|United Nations Security Council|Security Council}} has approved the deployment of an [[African Union]]-led peace keeping force in [[Somalia]] for a period of six months.

The 15 member council met last Tuesday (February 20), and unanimously authorized Resolution 1744, allowing African Union member states to establish a mission in Somalia "...to support dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia by assisting with the free movement, safe passage and protection" of those involved in the national reconciliation congress, including the federal transition government led by {{w|Ali Mohammed Ghedi}}. 

Other goals will be to create the "necessary security conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance", and to secure key infrastructure. The mission has been designated as {{w|African Union Mission to Somalia|AMISOM}}, an acronym that stands for ''A''frican ''Mi''ssion in ''Som''alia.

The initiative for the national reconciliation congress was announced by Somalian President {{w|Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed}} during a recent summit of the African Union. In the resolution text, the Council reminds that the congress needs a broad base, with representation of the diversity of the Somalian people.

While exact numbers remain unknown, diplomatic sources spoke of some 8,000 troops that could be sent to the region, half of which would be provided by [[Burundi]], [[Ghana]], [[Nigeria]] and [[Uganda]]. Ugunda would be the first to start with a phased operation to deploy their troops, some 1,500.

[[Ethiopia]] will not take part in AMISOM. The country's intervention in Somalia in December 2006, working together with forces loyal to Gedi, received much criticism. 

Ethiopian prime minister {{w|Meles Zenawi}}, who recently announced the retreat of the army from Somalia, admitted that he didn't wish for his country to be present any longer, and that the war only served to protect Ethiopia from the {{w|Islamic Courts Union}}, which controlled until last December the largest part of the country, including the capital {{w|Mogadishu}}.

For the purpose of the mission, the Council has lifted the arms embargo in effect since 1992, which it says has helped greatly for peace and security in Somalia. States supplying weapons and supplies still need to inform the sanctions committee, adding that the Council intends to "consider urgently" ways to strengthen the embargo's effectiveness.

Accompanying the resolution, the Security Council has asked Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] "to send a Technical Assessment Mission to the African Union headquarters and Somalia as soon as possible to report on the political and security situation and the possibility of a UN Peacekeeping Operation following the AU’s deployment."

{{Translated Wikinews|wiki=fr|title=Somalie : le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU autorise l'intervention de l'Union africaine|language=French}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/africa/news/article_1266308.php/UN_Security_Council_authorized_peacekeepers_for_Somalia
|title=UN Security Council authorized peacekeepers for Somalia
|author=Deutsche Presse-Agentur
|pub=Monsters and Critics
|date=February 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6429205,00.html
|title=U.N Authorizes AU Force in Somalia
|author=Edith M. Lederer (AP)
|pub=Guardian Unlimited
|date=February 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-02-21T062634Z_01_BAN123176_RTRIDST_0_OZATP-SOMALIA-CONFLICT-UN-20070221.XML
|title=UN Security Council approves Somalia peacekeepers
|author=Michelle Nichols
|pub=Michelle Nichols
|date=February 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6381189.stm
|title=UN backs peace force for Somalia
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=February 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=21626&Cr=Somalia&Cr1=
|title=Security Council authorizes African-led peace mission in Somalia
|pub=U.N. Security Council
|author=
|date=February 20, 2007}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sc8960.doc.htm
|title=Security Council authorizes six-month African Union mission in somalia, nanimously adopting resolution 1744 (2007)
|author=
|pub=Security Council
|date=February 20, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Somalia]]
[[Category:Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Burundi]]
[[Category:Ghana]]
[[Category:Nigeria]]
[[Category:Uganda]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:World]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:United Nations]]
[[Category:Ban Ki-moon]]
[[Category:African Union]]
[[Category:United Nations Security Council]]
[[Category:African Union Mission to Somalia]]

[[fr:Somalie : le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU autorise l'intervention de l'Union africaine]]
[[it:Il Consiglio di Sicurezza delle Nazioni Unite approva la missione di pace dell'Unione Africana in Somalia]]
Location of Somalia.
Map of Somalia.

The U.N. Security Council has approved the deployment of an African Union-led peace keeping force in Somalia for a period of six months.

The 15 member council met last Tuesday (February 20), and unanimously authorized Resolution 1744, allowing African Union member states to establish a mission in Somalia "...to support dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia by assisting with the free movement, safe passage and protection" of those involved in the national reconciliation congress, including the federal transition government led by . 

Other goals will be to create the "necessary security conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance", and to secure key infrastructure. The mission has been designated as AMISOM, an acronym that stands for African Mission in Somalia.

The initiative for the national reconciliation congress was announced by Somalian President  during a recent summit of the African Union. In the resolution text, the Council reminds that the congress needs a broad base, with representation of the diversity of the Somalian people.

While exact numbers remain unknown, diplomatic sources spoke of some 8,000 troops that could be sent to the region, half of which would be provided by Burundi, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. Ugunda would be the first to start with a phased operation to deploy their troops, some 1,500.

Ethiopia will not take part in AMISOM. The country's intervention in Somalia in December 2006, working together with forces loyal to Gedi, received much criticism. 

Ethiopian prime minister Islamic Courts Union, which controlled until last December the largest part of the country, including the capital .

For the purpose of the mission, the Council has lifted the arms embargo in effect since 1992, which it says has helped greatly for peace and security in Somalia. States supplying weapons and supplies still need to inform the sanctions committee, adding that the Council intends to "consider urgently" ways to strengthen the embargo's effectiveness.

Accompanying the resolution, the Security Council has asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "to send a Technical Assessment Mission to the African Union headquarters and Somalia as soon as possible to report on the political and security situation and the possibility of a UN Peacekeeping Operation following the AU’s deployment."

fr:Somalie : le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU autorise l'intervention de l'Union africaine
Somalia Ethiopia Burundi Ghana Nigeria Uganda Africa World Politics and conflicts United Nations Ban Ki-moon African Union United Nations Security Council African Union Mission to Somalia