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AU Ministers Agree to 'Take On' Al Shabaab
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The African Union has agreed to change the mandate of its peacekeeping mission, Amisom, in Somalia into a peace enforcement in an effort to engage the Al Shabaab militia.

The change in mandate was discussed and agreed on at a closed-door meeting attended by African Foreign Affairs Ministers on July 22 in Kampala ahead of the AU Summit.

Upon approval by the AU Summit the issue will be discussed jointly by the AU Security Council and the United Nations Security Council before an enforcement force can be put together.

In separate interviews, Foreign Affairs ministers from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Somalia acknowledged discussing the issue of the change of mandate and by the time of going to press, was to be conclusively upheld by the Summit, which more often than not approves recommendations made by the Foreign Affairs ministers.

"Peacekeeping is a misnomer, we need a change in mandate for enforcing peace. We are seeing Africans attacking Africans and boasting about it; that is unacceptable. As a regional body we must find a conclusive solution," said Moses Wetangula, Kenya's Foreign Affairs minister.

Earlier, the African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra had drummed up support for the change in mandate during an AU peace and security council meeting. The meeting was attended by various experts.

"We would certainly give leeway to Amisom so that it can accomplish its mission in the most comfortable manner," said the AU official.

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