Indonesia to send military officer to Somalia

The Indonesian government will assign a military officer to serve in the UN peace-keeping mission in Somalia following the expiry of the African Union Mission (AMISOM)`s mandate in the African country.

The military officer to join the UN peace mission in Somalia was currently undergoing a capability test, Vice Marshal Sagom Tamboen, a spokesman of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) said here on Wednesday. "On his departure, we are still waiting for confirmation from the UN. For sure, the participation of Indonesia in the UN peace mission in Somalia is based on the UN`s trust in Indonesia in joining UN peace missions so far," he said.

In his report on April 16 the UN Secretary General presented his views on a possible UN peacekeeping operation as a follow-on force to AMISOM as requested by Security Council resolution 1863, including recommendations on its mandate.  In UN Resolution 1863, adopted on January 16, the UN Security Council said it would decide on the issue by June 1, 2009.

The security situation in Somalia has remained volatile. At least 10 civilians were killed on April 11 when fighting broke out between the insurgent group Al-Shabaab and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) after a mortar attack on Mogadishu`s main port.