AMISOM Navy Opposed by Somalia, Fig Leaf for French Cheapskates?

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, February 16 – 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, and then put online the earlier 12-month draft, here, 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.