It is a little reported fact that when the international community was considering an arms embargo and no-fly zone for Libya, calls for the same action with respect to another African nation also were on the table. On Oct. 15, 2010, the African Union asked the UN Security Council to impose a naval blockade and no-fly zone on Somalia. Unlike Libya, however, the international community has to date been unable to muster the necessary political will to do so.
In this perspective, the approval of Resolution 1973 that has led to NATO action over part of Africa must be considered particularly significant and by no means a foregone conclusion. The fact that the Resolution also contains no predetermined timeline for the re-authorization of its enforcement measures similarly communicates a strong message of intent on the part of the world community.
