Member states of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have once again reiterated their support for Somalia's embattled interim government, calling on the African Union (AU) to reinforce its existing peacekeeping force with additional peacekeepers and a much tougher mandate. Following a meeting on the eve of the Thirteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Sirte (Libya), IGAD has called on the AU to boost its 4,300-strong force in Somalia, whilst calling on the pan-African body to change the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)'s mandate to allow it to play a more proactive role than the passive one its current mandate allows.

The IGAD members have also renewed their accusations against Eritrea, a former IGAD member, whom they have identified as a major "spoiler" in Somalia due to its alleged backing of anti-government insurgents, by renewing their calls for sanctions against the Asmara government, a position which is supported by the AU.Significance: IGAD’s statement ahead of the AU summit is effectively an affirmation of its continued support for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) which is currently fighting to remain in power in the face of an insurgency battle being waged against it by radical Islamists. Although the AU and its members are sympathetic to Somalia's plight, their failure to commit the additional troops that are needed to bolster AMISOM and bring it to its required 8,000-strong personnel continues to be a major problem in the quest to stabilise Somalia.



IHS Global Insight Daily Analysis