By John Stephen Katende

5^th Nov 2012:

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has extended the mandate of the international peacekeeping force providing support to the Government of Somalia.

In its unanimously adopted resolution, the UNSC, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, said it had determined that the situation in Somalia continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region, and “…decides to authorize the Member States of the African Union to maintain the deployment until 7 November 2012.”

Chapter VII of the Charter allows the Council to use force in the face of a threat to peace or aggression, taking “such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security,” including blockades and other operations by the forces of Member States.

The UNSC said it had recognised the “exceptional circumstances” which warrant a short extension of the mandate of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).

Although most meetings at UN Headquarters in New York City were cancelled last week due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy, UNSC members met briefly on Wednesday to discuss AMISOM’s mandate, which was due to expire on October 31.

Created and operated by the African Union Peace and Security Council in January 2007, AMISOM received a UN mandate from the world body’s Security Council the following month, and has been renewed ever since.

With close to 10,000 peacekeepers, it is mandated to conduct peace support operations in Somalia, which has been affected by conflict for more than two decades.  END:  Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

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