UN peace-keepers to withdraw by end of March 1995.

• Position: Somalia

The Security Council on 4 November, in extending the mandate of the UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II) for a final period until 31 March 1995, decided that every effort should be made to withdraw all peace-keeping forces and assets from Somalia "in a secure and orderly manner". To that end, it authorized the forces to take the actions necessary to protect the withdrawal.

"The establishment of a viable and acceptable peace can only come from the Somalis themselves", the Secretary-General declared in a report to the Council. "The international community cannot impose peace."

In adopting resolution 954 (1994), the Council demanded that Somali parties refrain from any acts of intimidation or violence against UNOSOM II and other personnel engaged in humanitarian activities.

Member States were asked to assist in the withdrawal of ONUSOM--which was launched in April 1992, when tens of thousands of Somali citizens were reported starving and subject to daily violence by armed bandits.

The Secretary-General was asked to keep the Council informed about the withdrawal process, the developments affecting the humanitarian situation, the security situation for humanitarian personnel, the repatriation of refugees and impacts on neighbouring countries. In reporting to the Council before 31 March 1995, he was to make suggestions on the role that the UN could play in Somalia beyond that date.

At the peak of its operations, UNOSOM had a strength of 30,000 troops and civilians, making it the largest peace-keeping force in UN history. By the end of 1994, some 8,000 peace-keepers were still in Somalia.

The Council affirmed that, until its termination, UNOSOM II's primary purpose was to facilitate political reconciliation in the country. It urged Somali factions to negotiate a ceasefire and the formation of a transitional government of national unity. It called upon Member States, particularly neighbouring countries, to continue supporting Somali efforts towards peace and national reconciliation, and invited the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue their cooperation with the UN in that regard.

The Council reiterated the need for observance and strict monitoring of the general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia, and asked the Committee established by the Council for that purpose to fulfil its mandate and seek the cooperation of...