Meles and Kibaki call for immediate deployment of AU stabilisation force

(17/01/2007)

Ethiopia and Kenya have called for the immediate deployment of an African Union and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) stabilisation force to Somalia.

In a joint communique issued yesterday after Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi paid an official visit to Nairobi, Kenya to meet with President Mwai Kibaki and discuss the ongoing situation in the Horn of Africa, the two leaders welcomed the progress that had so far been made towards stabilising the situation in Somalia and underlined their commitment towards helping Somalia achieve peace and security and embark on a process of reconstruction.

They called for the immediate deployment of an AU-IGAD force in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1725 of 6^th December 2005, and welcomed the offers made by African countries to contribute troops to such a force. They also invited other African countries to support the initiative.

They noted that the return of the Transitional Federal Government to Mogadishu was a positive development which presented a “window of opportunity for the international community to consolidate peace and stabilise Somalia.”

Meles and Kibaki agreed to intensify consultations with the TFG and neighbouring countries and called upon the TFG to continue the process of consolidating peace and reconciliation. 

ENDS