African Union has its work cut out

A lot needs to be done to bring peace and stability to Somalia and this cannot be achieved without a group effort from all parties concerned.

The African Union (AU) recently met to discuss means of putting a stop to the violence in Somalia and bringing an end to the widespread influence of the Islamist extremist group Al Shabab. The AU is already conducting a peacekeeping mission in the country.

"The summit has approved calls for reinforcing the budget of Amisom [African Union Mission to Somalia] and its equipment. We all think that Amisom must be reinforced immediately, along with the means of action of the Somali transitional government," said Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin.

Yet it is not just a question of keeping the peace in a country that has been ravaged by internal infighting for a very long time. Civil unrest has devastated Somalia for no less than two decades and achieving stability will be the toughest challenge of all. Hence, what is needed now is a careful look at the root cause underlying the current situation so that it is resolved once and for all.