The United Nations Security Council on Friday expressed its intent to establish a U.N. peacekeeping force in Somalia by June 1, but the decision is subject to another decision by the Council before then. The United States wanted a firm decision on a Somalia force but other countries said the timing was wrong and conditions on the ground in Somalia were not conducive to a peacekeeping mission. ”To decide to establish a peacekeeping operation now, when the necessary political and security conditions are not there, would have sent the blue helmets to failure and constituted a false hope for the most traumatized population in Africa,” French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said after the vote. The incoming United States U.N. ambassador, Susan Rice, also voiced skepticism about a Somalia force during her senate confirmation hearing yesterday. “I am skeptical too, about the wisdom of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Somalia at this time,” Rice said when questioned about Somalia. The U.N. force, if deployed, would bolster an existing African Union force in Somalia. That force, known as AMISOM, has some 2,000 troops though it has a mandated strength of 8,000. Under the terms of Friday's resolution, a U.N. force in Somalia would eventually incorporate the AMISOM force. The resolution adopted on Friday calls on U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to report to the Council before April 15th on the situation in Somalia.
