A meeting focusing on means to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable resources for peace operations and other related activities was held on 1 September at the African Union Commission as part of consultations in preparation for the report of the UN Secretary General on UN support to African peace keeping.

Led by the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Mr Erastus Mwencha and Ms Ingrid Hayden of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Africa Division, the meeting also provided the Commission with an opportunity to outline the progress it has made so far in increasing its financial management capacity, in an effort to allay anxieties about the Commission's capacity to manage funds meant for peace operations.

The Commission indicated that steps have been taken to mobilize further resources from within Africa in support of peace as demonstrated by the decision taken in Tripoli to double the standing transfer from the AU regular budget to the peace fund from 6- 12%. This process is to be implemented over three years.

The meeting was also an opportunity to broadly outline the capacity needs of the AU and what the UN could concretely do to assist.

Further to the need to clean up financial systems, the meeting emphasized the importance of ensuring that whatever resources are available are used to actually achieve the aims of the various peace missions, i.e. attainment sustainable peace and development.

On the increase in the number of troops in Somalia to the proposed 20 000, it was reported that further meetings on this issue are planned for 13 and 24 September this year.

In addition, there was consensus on the paramount importance of supporting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia as well as to reduce violence there.

"The mission needs to reach out to the larger Somalia since the TFG is under pressure from Al Shabaab", Mr. Mwencha said, citing the recent loss of four AU soldiers through a mortar bomb attack and the bombing of a hotel in Mogadishu which resulted in the loss of many lives and injury to many others.

The TFG also needs support to tackle its internal challenges, the meeting agreed.

The DPKO and AU delegations also discussed ways and means of supporting their joint operations which are guided by a Memorandum of Understanding. They restated their agreement to take stock of lessons learned so far from the actions implemented and to consult and cooperate on broader strategic policies.