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African leaders rush to find Somalia peacekeepers

The sending of African peacekeepers to Somalia has been the main topic of debate in the African Union summit taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia`s capitol. The peacekeeping mission is supposed to fill the void left by the departure of the Ethiopian army. Up to now the African nations have pledged 4 thousand soldiers, half of those intended for the peacekeeping mission. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, said that a third of the forces sent to assist the Somali government fight the Islamic rebels in the country have already returned to Ethiopia and that the reset of them will return in the up coming weeks.

Zenawi said the African Union must position its first units by mid-February. Uganda, Nigeria and Malawi have already promised to send their soldiers to Somalia, but Mozambique, Ghana and other African nations have yet to decide. Many countries are dismayed by the idea of sending their forces to the Horn of Africa, which is considered one of the most dangerous places on the globe, after it has been in a bloody state of Anarchy for the past 15 years.

Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf told the summit that his government intends to hold a broad reconciliation conference, which will include clan, religious and political leaders as well as other prominent figures, who will constructively discuss their country`s future. He said his government was "committed to doing whatever is necessary to ensure that a credible and all-inclusive government is set up". Europe, the United States, the United Nations and Ethiopia have all called on Yusuf to open to reach out to as many factions as possible, particularly, moderate Islamists and powerful clan leaders, hoping this will help stabilize the country.