Amisom regrets UN’s slow deployment of force enablers

The African Union backed force, Amisom has expressed disaffection over the slow pace by the UN in supplying the much needed enablers to crash the militant group Al-Shabaab even as Somalia gears up for elections in September this year.

Addressing the media Wednesday, Amisom Chief Francisco Madeira said despite multiple discussions and requests for many years, there was limited progress warning the shortcoming remains a big challenge for the 22,000 strong force.

“I take this opportunity to appeal to our partners to do their part, and provide the necessary support in a timely and responsive manner. The issue of force multipliers and enablers is something that has been discussed for years, with very limited progress. We are now appealing for action,” Madeira said.

Madeira said its forces had made significant strides in the fight against Al-Shabaab noting that the critical need for air assets in tackling Al-Shabaab should not be a subject of debate.

Head of states and governments of troops and police contributing countries to Amisom meeting in Djibouti February this year gave the African Union Commission 30 days to report to the African Union Summit on progress made regarding the deployment of force enablers for Amisom.

The heads of states had called for the generation and deployment of operational enablers and force multipliers, including pledged helicopters from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

They further ‘requested the UN to expedite the finalisation of Letters of Assist in order to allow for their deployment as Mission assets, taking due consideration of the high-intensity nature of AMISOM operations’.

The EU also effected a 20% cut on Amisom stipends this year further straining the force’s budget. But troops contributing countries reiterated the responsibility of maintaining world peace was the mandate of the UN Security Council calling on the world body to fully finance Amisom.