Membe has called for the International Community pool out their resources to assist the cash-strapped AU

Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr Bernard K. Membe

By ASSAH MWAMBENE

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr Bernard K. Membe has called for the International Community pool out their resources to assist the cash-strapped AU peace keeping force (AMISOM) to ward-off piracy in Somalia.

He also called the International Community to Step up the fight against maritime piracy in waters off the coast of Somalia and finding ways to boost support for the country's transitional government.

Briefing reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday the Minister said most of the Africans Countries were willing to send their forces to Somalia but were adamant to do so due to financial and logistical constraints.

He said while most of the African countries were willing to contribute troops in the AU-backed peace keeping mission in Somalia they fail to fulfil their obligation due to logistical and financial constraints.

“Uganda made it clearly that it is ready to send more than 40,000 troops in Somalia and all it need is to be assisted financially to carry out the mission” the Minister noted.

The Minister also praised Tanzanian former Head of State, Mr Benjamin Mkapa for being appointed to lead a High Level Monitoring team in the forthcoming referendum in Sudan.

He said saying the appointment signified that Mr. Mkapa commands high respect in the international arena and recognition of Tanzania’s pursuit for peace in Sudan.

On the assessment of the implementation of the Millennium Challenge goals, the Minister the said there were notable progress in the implementation of some of the goals.

He said Tanzania has been one of the Countries in Africa that have made a remarkable stride especially in the education sector to the extent that they received special award by the UN.

The Minister noted that Tanzania was specifically praised for achieving a 95 per cent in enrolment rate far back before the reaching the 2015 target.

He also noted that the US President, Baraka Obama in his speech to the UN hailed Tanzania as an example of countries in Africa that have made a remarkable achievement in upholding principles of good governance, accountability to the public.

Tanzania, under the millennium challenge compact is due to receive 698 Million US Dollars from the US government to support various projects in the infrastructure sector