The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 305th meeting held on 22 December 2011, was briefed by the Commission on its efforts towards the finalization of the Strategic Concept for the next phase of the implementation of the mandate of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Council received statements from Uganda, in its capacity as an AMISOM troop contributing country, the League of Arab States (LAS), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). The meeting was also attended by Ethiopia, in its capacity as Chair of IGAD, IGAD Secretariat, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as by the co‐Chairs of the AU Partners Group, namely Canada and Denmark.
Council welcomed the efforts made by the joint AU‐UN Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) towards the finalization of the Strategic Concept, as directed in the communiqué issued following its 302nd meeting held on 2 December 2011 [PSC/PR/ COMM(CCCII)], including the consultations with the TCCs, Ethiopia and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, as well as the field visits undertaken from 9 to 17 December 2011.
Council requested the Commission to actively pursue and complete the consultation process towards the finalization of the Strategic Concept, in particular through the early convening of a meeting of the Chiefs of Defense Staff and Ministers of Defense of the TCCs and other interested countries.
Council agreed to consider, in early January 2012, the Strategic Concept as finalized by the envisaged ministerial meeting, for adoption and subsequent formal transmission to the UN Security Council. In this respect, Council requested the Commission to liaise with South Africa, as the incoming President of the Security Council, in order to include, on the agenda of the Security Council for the month of January 2012, an item on Somalia and the efforts of AMISOM.
Council noted with satisfaction the statements made by the partners regarding their renewed commitment to support the ongoing efforts towards the strengthening of AMISOM to enable it more effectively discharge its mandate in support of the Somali people and institutions.
Council reiterated its call on the Somali leadership to demonstrate a sense of ownership of and commitment to the full and faithful implementation of the Kampala Accord of 6 June 2011 and the Political Roadmap agreed to on 7 September 2011. Council also urged the Somali leadership to speedily resolve the current parliamentary crisis and to cooperate with the efforts of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission, the IGAD Facilitator and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary‐ General to assist in this respect.
Council strongly urged the Somali leadership and all other stakeholders to show a unity of purpose, in the interest of their country, and do all that they can to ensure the success of the constitution‐making process, including the conference convened in Garowe to this end.
Council reaffirmed the terms of the communiqué of its 302nd meeting, and reiterated that the recent developments on the ground brought about by the forced withdrawal of Al Shabaab from Mogadishu and the ongoing joint Kenya and TFG forces operation in South Central Somalia open a unique window of opportunity to improve security and further reconciliation and stability. Council expressed the hope that the larger international community will seize this opportunity and commit the resources and support required to this end, as well as for early socio‐economic recovery in the pacified areas of Somalia.
Council welcomed the UN Secretary‐General’s announcement that the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) will be relocating to Mogadishu in January 2012.
Council called on TFG to engage in the establishment of regional administrations in the new areas liberated by the military.
Council called, once again, on the international community to continue to provide the much‐needed humanitarian assistance to the suffering populations in the droughtstricken and liberated parts of Somalia.