African governments on Thursday called on the United Nations to back a naval and air blockade of Somalia and for the international force in the war-torn country to be increased to 20,000 troops. The blockade would stop arms reaching insurgent groups, led by the al Qaeda affiliated Shebab, which is fighting Somalia's transitional government, said Ramtane Lamamra, the AU peace and security commissioner.
"The African Union is very concerned that the insecurity in Somalia is spilling over into the region," Lamamra told the UN Security Council, highlighting bomb attacks in the Ugandan capital in July claimed by Shebab. The African envoy said an AU ministerial meeting had decided to strengthen the AU force in Somalia (AMISOM) in coming months "in order to bring its military component to 20,000 and its police component to 1,680."
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