UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously to authorize an increase in the African Union force in Somalia from 12,000 to about 17,700 and expand its areas of operation in an effort to intensify pressure on al-Shabab militants.
A resolution adopted Wednesday by the U.N.’s most powerful body also orders a ban on the export and import of charcoal from Somalia, which is a significant revenue source for al-Shabab.
The council adopted the resolution on the eve of a conference on Somalia in London on Thursday, where senior representatives from more than 40 governments and international organizations are expected to adopt a new international approach to the country’s myriad problems.
