The UN Security Council extended the non-African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia for another four months, following Uganda’s threats to pull out its peacekeeping troops.
The peacekeeping mission was expected to be prolonged for another 12 months, but a shorter term as been allocated to allow for a review of the necessity of a peacekeeping mandate. The move follows an appeal by the African Union (AU) to repeal the current arms embargo.
Commenting on the political environment in Somalia, British UN Ambassador, Mark Lyall, said,
“The situation in Somalia is changing rapidly. We have a more legitimate political leadership than ever before.”
The African Union appealed to the UN council to reconsider the current arms embargo that inhibits Somalia from rebuilding its army.
The embargo was initially imposed in 1992 to stop the arms supply to warlords.
The AU’s calls for the cessation of the arms embargo, come as Somalia’s political situation shows some positive progression.
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