"We have a commitment to deliver quickly an additional 4,000 troops there, which will help us to reach the ceiling and may be go beyond that ceiling," African Union commission chief Jean Ping told reporters.

The continental body also pushed for AMISOM to be given a license to hunt the Al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab, who are threatening to punch their way to Mogadishu's presidential palace and take over full control of the country.

Despite that, African Union leaders said they are considering a plan to give the force a stronger mandate and had requested helicopters from Western donors to allow the AU troops to take offensive action against the al-Qaida-aligned insurgents. Currently the peacekeeping forces can only respond to attacks or when they see militants.

Shortly before the summit wrapped up, the permanent secretary of Uganda's foreign ministry James Mugume said there was no agreement on whether to give the force a more aggressive mandate under chapter seven of the UN charter.