Watch Video>>EU foreign ministers have agreed to increase efforts to stabilize Somalia, and to reinforce political and financial support for the embattled Somali government.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt talks to European Union foreignpolicy chief Javier Solana (R) at the start of a EU foreign ministersmeeting in Brussels July 27, 2009.REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
The ministers, meeting in Brussels, said the EU would explore ways to increase assistance to the Somali transitional federal government in battling insurgents.
EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, says the efforts include training security forces and support for the African Union peacekeeping mission. Solana also says he wants to see troops on the ground as well as the ones already at sea. The EU has extended its anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia until the end of next year to curb attacks of Somali gangs. However, the attacks have continued despite the presence of naval forces from more than a dozen states.
EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, says the efforts include training security forces and support for the African Union peacekeeping mission. Solana also says he wants to see troops on the ground as well as the ones already at sea. The EU has extended its anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia until the end of next year to curb attacks of Somali gangs. However, the attacks have continued despite the presence of naval forces from more than a dozen states.
EU eyes Somalia security training mission
BRUSSELS — The European Union announced Monday plans to set up a training mission for security personnel in Somalia, and will send a planning team to the crisis-hit Horn of Africa nation next month.EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels, decided to "explore the possibility of additional EU support to the security sector", a statement said."At the very beginning of next month, a formal mission of the EU will be there and we will clarifyand get an agreement how to operate," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters.He said the European Union would look at "the idea of training security forces", as well as how to help pay their salaries and boost cooperation with the African Union mission in Somalia.The EU is currently running an anti-piracy mission in the waters of the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast, but senior officials have long conceded that the only real way to combat the problem is to combat it on the ground...more..
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