UN Security Council calls on support for AU mission

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Wednesday called on the international community to "provide uncaveated support" for the African Union Mission in Somalia ( AMISOM) as the embattled Horn of African state is at a critical stage.

"The members of the Security Council stressed the importance of predictable, reliable and timely resources to AMISOM and called on the international community to provide uncaveated support to AMISOM in order for it to strengthen its capability and to better fulfill its mandate," said a Security Council press statement.

The statement was read to the press here by Maite Nkoana Mashabane, the minister of international relations and cooperation of South Africa, which holds the rotating council president for January, after an open-door meeting on Somalia.

AMISOM has worked alongside the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to stabilize Somalia since 2007. The AU Peace and Security Council recently approved a troop increase for the mission.

The Security Council also "expressed their readiness to support action against spoilers that seek to undermine the peace process, and peace, security and stability in Somalia," the statement said.

Meanwhile on the "continuing dire humanitarian situation" in Somalia and the famine affecting the country, the Security Council voiced "grave concern," according to the statement.

"The members of the Security Council urged all parties and armed groups to ensure full and unhindered access for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid, and to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and supplies," said the press statement.

The country has been the scene of a civil war between the national TFG and insurgent groups for years, although the TFG benefited in 2011 from the exit of militant group Al-Shaabab from the capital Mogadishu.