Europe close to launching Somali forces training

Europe’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana says the European Union may launch its planned mission to train Somali forces next month.

The European Union’s foreign and defence ministers, meeting today, are expected to formally approve the mission aimed at transforming Somali militia into the nucleus of a regular army.

The mission would involve 200 Europeans training up to 2,000 Somali troops in Uganda.

The move is part of a wider international effort to help stabilise Somalia’s government which is facing a massive rebellion by Islamic militants. The country has been without a government and an army since 1991.

The EU runs a separate maritime anti-piracy mission off Somalia’s coast where pirates have hijacked dozens of ships. AP