A top U.S. diplomat says more troops are needed on the ground in Somalia, where Islamist militants are threatening to topple the government. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson made the comment Monday on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Uganda's capital, Kampala.
African leaders are discussing changes to the mandate of the AU peacekeeping force in Somalia, which helps to protect key government sites. The force currently has a little more than 6,000 soldiers stretched between Uganda and Burundi. The AU is considering an expansion of the force, and a change of rules that would allow it to go on the offensive against insurgent groups al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam.
Carson said the U.S. would support additional troops, in the same fashion it supports the current AU force.
VOA News
