NASSIR Posted March 8, 2005 Mbabazi Defends Somalia Mission The Monitor (Kampala) March 9, 2005 Posted to the web March 8, 2005 Frank Nyakairu Entebbe The Defence Minister, Mr Amama Mbabazi, has defended UPDF's planned deployment in Somalia saying Uganda has the capacity to handle the assignment. Mbabazi told BBC on Tuesday morning that UPDF would not be overstretched - even in the face of the 19-year northern insurgency if it contributes to the planned 60,000 man strong contingent to the lawless Somalia. "We have handled situations in Rwanda, in DR Congo and if there is a call for service elsewhere, why not? We have enough resources to perform," Mbabazi said. Senior East African military officials began talks at Entebbe on Monday to conclude details of deploying a regional peacekeeping mission to Somalia. Yesterday the UPDF Army Commander, Lt Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, opened the seven-day conference calling for concerted efforts to end the Somali crisis. "In Uganda we believe that helping our neighbours is a time-honoured tradition. We shall do our part to see peace return to Somalia," Aronda said at the conference. He said the meeting would deliberate "on troop contributing countries, mandate, size of the mission, funding and logistics." Between today and Friday army chiefs of staff and ministers will meet to map the final strategy for war torn Somalia. UPDF is preparing itself to operate in Somalia's harsh conditions after at least 3,000 people demonstrated three weeks ago against the deployment of foreign troops. The AU has authorised the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) countries: Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti to send an interim force to Mogadishu to help Somalia's transitional government relocate in the country. The transitional government is based in Kenya. Somalia plunged into chaos after the fall of President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Since last October, Somalia has adopted political institutions which include the presidency, government, and parliament but the latter remain in Nairobi for security reasons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NASSIR Posted March 8, 2005 More News from Kampala (AFP) Borneo Bulletin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
