United Kingdom to Send Troops to Help Stabilize Somalia and South Sudan

Around 70 troops will go to Somalia, where the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu protected by 22,000 African Union troops from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

“Our Armed Forces have a long history of delivering security and stability to some of the most hard environments in the world, and I am proud to offer British support and expertise to peacekeeping operations in Somalia and South Sudan”.

The PM, who will pledge the support at the UN General Assembly summit, said the approach could help curb migrants coming to Europe.

In particular, the soldiers would support the African Union force that is working to build stability in the country and counter the threat posed by the terrorist group Al-Shabab.

British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to supply troops to provide medical, logistical, and engineering support, but will not be involved in front-line operations, according to Sky News.

The role of those being sent to South Sudan – where a humanitarian crisis has been declared after inter-tribal fighting forced two million from their homes and left millions facing a severe food shortage – will also include combat training as well as engineering work to strengthen vital infrastructure.

“Obviously we will want to see all the right force protection arrangements in place but we should be playing a part in this”.

“The outcome in Somalia, if it’s a good outcome, that’s good for Britain”, he added. It means less terrorism, less migration, less piracy.

The crisis dominated their 45-minute discussion in New York, where Western allies remain deeply split with Russian Federation and Iran over the future of Bashar Assad as the civil-war racked country’s president.

Britain has contributed to many peacekeeping forces over the years, wearing the distinctive blue berets of the United Nations, but its role is largely limited now to providing about 280 troops participating in the current mission in Cyprus.