Somalia: Puntland parliamentarians quash possible deployment of AU forces

GAROWE, Somalia, August 17, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Puntland parliamentarians have quashed possible deployment of African Union peacekeepers in the northeastern state at any time in the future in blow to presidential acceptance, a lawmaker told Garowe Online.

On Monday, permanent parliamentary committee members discussed the arrival of peacekeepers set to provide United Nations Agencies in Puntland with security, deeming the move ‘dishonorable and blistering’.

“If [African Union troops] numbering 20 or 1000 were deployed, it would be tantamount to expansion of AU operations into Puntland,” MP within the parliamentary bloc said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the outcome of the meeting.

Outrage has grown over boots on the ground since United Nations envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Nicholas Kay said, plans were under active consideration without specifying a date in an interview with Reuters on May 7.

Puntland President, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has given green light to United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) to airlift security escorts from Mogadishu headquarters to Puntland capital, Garowe.

The order sparked public debates and dismay on whether the government was unable to guard international staff against terror threats.

In 2014, Uganda sent 410-strong special force, the first protection squad to guard key installations in volatile Mogadishu.

Ali more recently told Reuters that he was seeking resources from African Union Mission to Somalia, AMISOM.

On May 14, Puntland cabinet under the chairmanship of Ali strongly contested any possible AMISOM operations.

On April 20, Al Shabaab suicide bomber blew himself up, killing four UNICEF staff in front of main compound in Garowe.

Ever since, there has been growing demand for greater security for international staffers with United Nations Agencies. 

GAROWE ONLINE