Munyonyo, Uganda (CNN) -- The African Union summit ended Tuesday without a resolution to change the mandate of its mission in Somalia from peacekeeping to peace enforcing, despite calls from some African leaders to do so.
"We have not made a resolution on the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Somalia, but it is an issue we are considering, given the resources required," Malawian president and AU chairman Bingu wa Mutharika told reporters at a joint news conference.
"There have been calls for a change in the mandate to a more robust approach to the insurgent attacks in Somalia by Uganda and Burundi, to go beyond Mogadishu, (which is) their current limit, but (we) did not decide on that," wa Mutharika said.
AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping said that several conditions must be met before the mandate could be changed.
"We need equipment to match with the change in combat approach. We need helicopters for that. The United States and the UK are considering our request for these, but we need a firm reply," Ping said.
More funding is also needed for such a change, Ping explained, and certain diplomatic conditions must be met as well.
CNN
