African Union endorses deployment of 1,700 peacekeepers

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

A 1,700-strong peacekeeping force will be deployed to Somalia within weeks to facilitate the return of the transitional government from its present base in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, officials said on Thursday.

The force will be made up of Ugandan and Sudanese troops, and it is expected to be deployed for six to nine months at a cost of US $102 million, the African Union (AU) said.

It will initially operate under the mandate of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) until the AU takes over.

Said Djinnit, AU commissioner for peace and security, appealed to the international community to provide financial and logistical support to the mission.