UNOSOM II mandate extended: mission's future pondered.

• Position: United Nations Operation in Somalia

Despite its deep concern over a deteriorating security environment, including "attacks and harassment" against UN peacekeepers, the Security Council on 30 September extended the mandate of the UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II) for one month, until 31 October. In the meantime, the Council would undertake a thorough examination of UNOSOM's mandate, with a view to deciding on its future.

The Council, in adopting resolution 946 (1994) by 14 votes to none, with the United States abstaining, also encouraged the Secretary-General to intensify preparations of contingency arrangements for the possible withdrawal of UNOSOM II within a specified time-frame.

The Council also declared its readiness to consider sending a mission to Somalia at the appropriate time, in order to convey directly to the Somali political parties its views on the situation in the country and on the future of the UN presence there.

UNOSOM II force levels were to be reduced from 18,761 as of August to 15,000 by the end of october, with withdrawals concentrated in areas of relative stability. UNOSOM forces would continue to protect major seaports and airports and escort humanitarian convoys, but would no longer be in a position to protect UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in vacated areas. The forces would be concentrated mainly in Mogadishu, Baidoa and Kismayo.

UNOSOM II continued to provide basic training to Somali police, but had discontinued the further issue of police equipment, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali reported. Despite political commitments to remove military vehicles and checkpoints, "technicals"--vehicles mounted with machine-guns and recoilless weapons and manned by armed militia--were observed daily in Mogadishu, particularly around the seaport and airport. Small-arms fire was heard continuously in the capital city, and threats of armed militias and "technicals" outside Mogadishu were described as "permanent".

No progress

In explaining the United States position, Madeleine K. Albright said the time had come to bring UNOSOM II to a conclusion. Over the past four months, she said, there was a "total lack of progress on political reconciliation". General deterioration had been punctuated by violent attacks on UN peace-keepers. More than 140 peace-keepers had died in Somalia, she noted.

The mission was draining scarce resources that could be better used elsewhere. In the face of Somali "intransigence" and unwillingness to reach political...