Somalia asks Uganda for more troops

Sunday, 7th August, 2011	E-mail article   Print article
By Raymond Baguma and Joshua Kato SOMALIA leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has asked President Yoweri Museveni to allow the UPDF to pursue the al-Shaaab militants beyond Mogadishu. The al-Shabaab’s exit from Mogadishu over the weekend came during the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan when they were expected to be more aggressive in the battlefield. The withdrawal of the insurgents from Mogadishu follows successive offensives against them in which government forces and AMISOM captured three strategic locations in Mogadishu. The move also aimed at protecting aid workers providing assistance to over 100,000 people affected by severe famine in the capital. A security source, on condition of anonymity, said: “After al-Shabaab fled from Mogadishu, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) do not want to see a security vacuum in the capital, so government leaders made clear the importance of more troops at this time.” Foreign affairs state minister Henry Okello Oryem said the two leaders yesterday held discussions on the AMISOM troops currently serving in Mogadishu. According to Oryem, Sheikh Sharif hailed President Museveni for the role in pacifying Somalia. The meeting took place at Museveni’s country ranch at Kisozi, Gomba district. Oryem added that the two presidents discussed the steps to take after al-Shabaab have vacated their bases in Mogadishu. The steps included the possibility of pursuing the rebels beyond Mogadishu. However, the task of pursuing al-Shabaab beyond Mogadishu and consolidating the gains would require bolstering the numbers of troops in Somalia. UPDF commander of land forces Gen. Katumba Wamala on Sunday said: “It is time for countries that promised us troops to come in and support the mission. We need more troops and other forms of assistance to pacify the whole of Somalia.” According to Oryem, pursuing al-Shabaab would require the approval of the UN Security Council to extend the AMISOM mandate, which presently limits the troops to Mogadishu. It would also mean changing the mandate from peacekeeping because it would be a war situation. The leaders discussed other African Union countries fulfilling their pledges to contribute troops to the mission in Somalia. Currently, there are 12,000 AMISOM forces from Burundi and Uganda backing the TFG. Somali media yesterday reported that Sheikh Sharif wants Uganda to send an additional 3,000 troops into Somalia to bolster the precarious peace in Mogadishu. According to Oryem, Museveni said there was need for the transitional government to take charge of public places in Mogadishu such as markets, hospitals and schools. This will enable civilians access these places and enjoy the prevailing peace. According to a State House statement, Sheikh Sharif was accompanied by deputy Prime Minister and foreign affairs minister Mohammed Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister and defence minister Hussein Arab Isa, and Minister of Women and Family Affairs Mariam Aweys Jama. Analysts say the terrorist group, which still controls south and central Somalia, has weakened and suffered internal leadership wrangles.