East Africa Regional Group Calls for "UN No Fly Zone" Over Somalia

Fighting is continuing between the US-backed AMISOM forces and the Al-Shabab Islamic resistance movement in the capital of Mogadishu, Somalia. Kenya has also invaded the country in the last several days., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Igad requests UN to impose no fly zone over Somalia

The East African security bloc, Igad has appealed to the United Nations Security Council to impose a no fly zone over Somalia

AFRICA REVIEW
By ARGAW ASHINEPosted Saturday, October 22 2011 at 17:05

The East African security bloc, Igad has appealed to the United Nations to impose a no fly zone over Somalia to step up the fight against al Shabaab rebels.

The Inter Governmental Authority for Development during its closed-door session in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Friday evening called for an immediate imposition of air and naval blockade of Somali especially in the port city of Kismayu to cut off billions of shillings earned by al Shabaab to finance their insurgency.

Igad has been requesting for the imposition of no fly zone over Somalia since May 2010 but UN failed to respond.

On its communiqué, the bloc underlined the importance of coordination effort for the ongoing Kenyan troops fighting al Shabaab and urged the international community to offer both diplomatic and logistical support.

Earlier this week, Kenyan jets pounded al-Shabaab positions in Somalia as its ground forces prepared for a fresh assault against the militant group that it has blamed for threatening its security and economic interest.

Ethiopia troops

Igad also called on the UN to lift an arms embargo against Mogadishu to boost Somalia Transitional Government fighting capacity against rebels.

The current ministerial chairperson who is also the Ethiopian Foreign minister Hailemariam Desalegn appreciated the Africa Union’s willingness to provide its military troops to Igad member states.

He also urged the international community to deploy the required number of peacekeepers in Somalia to sustain the recent gains by the country’s troops.