AMISOM Navy Opposed by Somalia, Fig Leaf for French Cheapskates?
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 17, 2013 - Back in November 2012, despite there
being ten votes on the 15 member UN Security Council to include and pay for
a naval component in the Somalia mission AMISOM, the decision was deferred
for four months.
As Inner City Press reported, this was largely blamed on "cheapness" by
France, which did not want to pay.
Now the idea appears to have been not deferred but shot down.
Fawzia Y. H Adam, the Somali deputy prime minister who addressed the
Security Council this week announced "our strong opposition to a maritime
force to be authorized for AMISOM. There is no compelling reason to take the
campaign against AI Shabab to sea. Piracy, people trafficking and smuggling
are important challenges but are not linked to the mandate of AMISOM."
Despite these stated reasons, UN cynics are wondering if the real concern
about paying wasn't given the fig leaf of a Somali speech.
On November 7, after "three or four" countries blocked a 12 month
extension of the Somalia peacekeeping mission and funding of a maritime
component, the Security Council adopted by a 15-0 vote a four month
extension.
Inner City Press covered the negotiations, here
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/som3naval110612.html> , and then put online
the earlier 12-month draft, here
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/amisom1dr110212.pdf> , as a public service.
After the vote, countries ranging from South Africa and India to Guatemala
said in their explanations of vote that the maritime component should have
been included.
South Africa's Deputy Permanent Representative Doctor Mashabane came to
the stakeout and Inner City Press asked him, how many votes did you have for
the maritime component?
Ten, he said, adding that it was blocked by "three or four" Council
members. (Another well placed source, a Permanent Representative, told Inner
City Press the cheapness came mostly "from France.")
Inner City Press asked if Kenya will now withdraw its ships, since the
Security Council didn't approve funding for this maritime component.
Mashabane said he couldn't speak for Kenya, but added that the African Union
doesn't just wake up and make requests, and that its requests should be
treated with more respect by the UN Security Council.
Well, not yet. Watch this site.
Received on Sun Feb 17 2013 - 21:23:09 EST
