Africa
9 August 2011 Last updated at 13:18 GMT 
The government has said it is offering amnesty to fighters from the militant al-Shabab group.
Somalia, hit by 20 years of conflict, is also experiencing a famine.
Al-Shabab controls most of south and central Somalia, including the areas worst affected by the famine.
On Saturday, it surprised many analysts by announcing a withdrawal of its forces from Mogadishu.
Guerrilla warfare? Mr Mahiga told the BBC he believed al-Shabab had made a tactical retreat.
"Both [the AU force] and government forces need to be resupplied and resupplied quickly in terms of manpower and equipment to re-establish authority in those areas [surrendered by al-Shabab]," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
The AU has 9,000 troops in Somalia out of an expected 20,000. All are from Uganda and Burundi.
Several African countries, including Nigeria and Malawi, have failed to fulfil promises to send troops because they fear being dragged into a long-running conflict.
Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, was formed in 2007 to overthrow the weak interim government and establish Islamic rule in Somalia.
Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh is on a regional tour to bolster support for his government.
Attack repelled He is due to meet Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday, following a meeting on Monday with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.
The BBC's Mohamed Mwalimu in Mogadishu says al-Shabab fighters launched an overnight attack in the city on two fronts.
However, they retreated after AU and government forces returned fire, our reporter says.
The government held a ceremony on Tuesday in Mogadishu's commercial hub, the Bakara market, to announce that police would take over security at the market from the army.
The government's decision showed it was confident that al-Shabab was on the retreat in Mogadishu, our reporter says.
The market had been heavily contested for months and many shops - which closed because of the fighting - were reopening, our reporter says.
The government has promised militants that they will not be punished if they surrender.
"Put down your weapons and your guns, and come and join the people and your society," government spokesman Abdirahman Osman was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
The UN refugee agency on Monday flew aid to famine victims in Mogadishu, its first airlift to the city for five years.
Some 100,000 people have arrived in the city in the last two months in search of food.
Insecurity makes it difficult for aid agencies to distribute materials.
AU peacekeepers have led an offensive against the al-Shabab Islamist group
The UN special envoy to Somalia has appealed for more peacekeepers in the capital, after militant Islamists withdrew from the city.
Augustine Mahiga said the African Union force in Somalia needed to be strengthened to help the government re-establish authority in Mogadishu. The government has said it is offering amnesty to fighters from the militant al-Shabab group.
Somalia, hit by 20 years of conflict, is also experiencing a famine.
Al-Shabab controls most of south and central Somalia, including the areas worst affected by the famine.
On Saturday, it surprised many analysts by announcing a withdrawal of its forces from Mogadishu.
Guerrilla warfare? Mr Mahiga told the BBC he believed al-Shabab had made a tactical retreat.
"Both [the AU force] and government forces need to be resupplied and resupplied quickly in terms of manpower and equipment to re-establish authority in those areas [surrendered by al-Shabab]," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
“Start Quote
Abdirahman Osman Somali government spokesmanPut down your weapons and your guns, and come and join the people and your society”
Mr Mahiga said al-Shabab was likely to wage guerrilla warfare in Mogadishu, including carrying out more suicide bombings.
"It could be that a totally different military situation is being created," he said. The AU has 9,000 troops in Somalia out of an expected 20,000. All are from Uganda and Burundi.
Several African countries, including Nigeria and Malawi, have failed to fulfil promises to send troops because they fear being dragged into a long-running conflict.
Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, was formed in 2007 to overthrow the weak interim government and establish Islamic rule in Somalia.
Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh is on a regional tour to bolster support for his government.
Attack repelled He is due to meet Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete on Tuesday, following a meeting on Monday with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.
The BBC's Mohamed Mwalimu in Mogadishu says al-Shabab fighters launched an overnight attack in the city on two fronts.
However, they retreated after AU and government forces returned fire, our reporter says.
The government held a ceremony on Tuesday in Mogadishu's commercial hub, the Bakara market, to announce that police would take over security at the market from the army.
The government's decision showed it was confident that al-Shabab was on the retreat in Mogadishu, our reporter says.
The market had been heavily contested for months and many shops - which closed because of the fighting - were reopening, our reporter says.
The government has promised militants that they will not be punished if they surrender.
"Put down your weapons and your guns, and come and join the people and your society," government spokesman Abdirahman Osman was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
The UN refugee agency on Monday flew aid to famine victims in Mogadishu, its first airlift to the city for five years.
Some 100,000 people have arrived in the city in the last two months in search of food.
Insecurity makes it difficult for aid agencies to distribute materials.
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