AMISOM troops should protect The Civilians In Mogadishu.

The African Union (AU) troops in Somalia should consider protecting the civilians and defending the government with a stronger mandate. many diplomats have insisted that the country's AMISOM peacekeepers should intervene if the government and civilians are threatened even if they are not mandated. Meanwhile, attacks on civilians continue and pro government troops are losing grounds in Mogadishu.

Yesterday, the African Union has proposed increasing the AMISOM force in Somalia to more than 7,000 soldiers. Sieraleon is offering troops and Burundi is expanding its force in Mogadishu. the AU troops´ mandate should include to provide civilian protection. The AU nevertheless has not given up its intentions to play a leading role in solving the Somali crisis.

More troops for AMISOM is essential in order to give themselves sufficient capacity to protect the civilian population in case the Shabab and other fanatics to resume attacks on them. AU Diplomat who refused to be named said. "We are gravely concerned about the developments in the Mogadishu and are taking decisive measures to bring the protracted conflicts to an end," he added.

The AU, in addition to deploying a large peacekeeping mission, wants to achieve a clear mandate that gives it the right to use force if and when civilians are under fire by the Shabab and other militia. The Union earlier this year deployed more troops and now the number is almost 4000 troops in Mogadishu.

Despite the limited mandate given these AU troops, Many Somalis and AU and westerns diplomats has made it clear that AMISOM and US AFRICOM troops should not stand by passively and watch Somali government collapsing and civilians slaughtering by c Jihadist and by Shababo .

They need to be ordered to defend the government positions and civilian targets. in my view it does not make sense that AMISOM troops to protect the airport and the port alone while the government needs help to defend itself and the local population is left to die.

Now the international community should increase pressure on the AMISOM to accept with a mandate for protecting civilians, and it should provide the support that's urgently needed for this mission. The AU's efforts needed support from the international community.

According to AFP , The UN special representative to Somali blamed Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys Wednesday for recent fighting in Mogadishu and accused him of seeking to topple the country's government. "Aweys came to take power and topple a legitimate regime," Ahmedou Ould Abdallah told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting on Somalia at the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Meanwhile yesterday it was confirmed that the situation in a number of areas was deteriorating for Mogadishu civilians. also many Aid workers voices concern over the continued limited access for humanitarian workers in Mogadishu and also a possible famine in Somalia. Up to 25000, persons are at the risk of dying due to lack of food and clean water, UN sources have estimated.

Finally The African Union troops in Somalia should defend the government and protect the civilian population.