SC/9927
Security Council
6213th Meeting (AM)
Somali Minister Appeals for Direct Support to Government, Saying Half-Hearted Measures, Delays Encourage Intransigence; Norway Informs of 'Test' for Government
With the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia making progress building its institutions and reaching out to armed groups, it was important to redouble efforts for stability in light of the remaining enormous challenges, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General told the Security Council this morning.
"We should all recognize that, after years of anarchy, there will never be a right time in Somalia. We have to act now," Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah said in a briefing, looking forward to next week's Istanbul Conference on Somalia and dismissing suggestions that it was either too early or too late for such a high-level gathering. The meeting today also heard from the First Deputy Prime-Minister of Somalia, Abdurahman Ibrahim, as well as the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, Ramtane Lamamra.
Mr. Ould-Abdallah said that next week's conference was an exceptional opportunity to show that Somalia had true friends ready to make a difference in this year, in which the country celebrated its fiftieth anniversary of independence. Funds mobilized in last year's Brussels Conference had already made a difference in strengthening the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Transitional Federal Government in security and capacity-building, but more such support was needed.
The Transitional Federal Government had succeeded in reaching out to other groups committed to peace and stability, he said, noting the 15 March agreement signed with Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a, which could provide a blueprint for future agreements. He reiterated that the "door of peace" was open to all Somalis wishing to end the agony of their country.
Noting the significance of an agreement with the region of Puntland on piracy-related issues, he called for employment schemes for youth to help stem piracy and proposed that countries fishing in Somali waters should pay a license fee to be used to strengthen Somali authorities to control the criminals.
Meanwhile, he said that the humanitarian situation remained horrendous, despite the laudable work of the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other agencies. He stressed that the humanitarian and human rights situation were part and parcel of the same situation and that impunity must be ended through concerted international assistance.
He reiterated that the three inter-related pillars of the peace process -- reconciliation, security and development -- should be addressed simultaneously. At the upcoming Conference, the country's vibrant business community and the international community could make progress on all fronts through a show of solidarity and by launching new initiatives for reconstruction and job creation.
"Once Governments, development agencies, business agencies and non-governmental organizations act together, they can help bring about a major move away from past practices of managing the status quo," he said.
Mr. Ibrahim, who is also Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Somalia, thanked the international community for its assistance, but appealed for a paradigm shift to unequivocal, direct support to the Somali Government so that it could, in turn, support the people of the country more effectively.
"Any small, hesitant, half-hearted measures... and protracted delays will only increase the intransigence of extremist die-hard elements," he said. Describing progress in reconciliation, drafting the new constitution and building institutions, he said that, while Somalia faced challenges, it also offered enormous opportunities.
Taking the floor for a second time at the end of the meeting, Mr. Ibrahim appealed strongly for direct support for his Government, which he said was being assailed by well-funded terrorists, noting that of all the money raised for Somalia, little had reached the Government itself. Allegations of corruption against Government members had emboldened the terrorists, he said. "We need to be trusted and we need to be held accountable for the distribution of the funds given to us," he declared.
In his presentation, Commissioner Lamamra said that assisting a Somali Government to exercise sovereignty throughout its territory would be the best way of marking the country's fiftieth anniversary of independence. For that purpose, the international partnership in support of Somalia should be strengthened, particularly the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, for which Burundian and Ugandan troops were performing valiant work.
Also noting recent positive developments, he maintained that more assistance, along with upgrading the status and conditions of AMISOM troops, would strengthen those trends. He pledged that the African Union would carry out its commitments to help restore stability in Somalia.
Following those presentations, speakers welcomed signs of progress in Somalia, while also expressing continuing, deep concern over the persistent activity of extremist groups and other armed factions, as well as the dismal humanitarian and human rights situation in the country, with some noting the attacks on journalists.
Welcoming the March agreement with the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a, speakers also reiterated support for the Djibouti peace process and urged the Transitional Federal Government to continue outreach to bring other groups into that process. Most speakers expressed strong support for AMISOM and the Government. Norway's representative said that his country had deposited a small, test amount of funds in a government account and would give more direct support if it saw results in improved services to the Somali people.
Also speaking this morning were the representatives of the United Kingdom, United States, Turkey, Russian Federation, France, China, Japan, Nigeria, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gabon, Uganda, Brazil, Austria, Lebanon and Norway.
The delegation of the European Union also made a statement.
The meeting began at 10:34 a.m. and ended at 1:15 p.m.
Background
The Security Council had before it the Report of the Secretary-General on Somalia (document S/2010/234), which says that, despite multiple challenges, the Transitional Federal Government in the faction-torn country had been making strong efforts to improve security and stability.
The Transitional Federal Government, the Secretary-General says in the report, has begun to raise domestic revenues to fund some of its initiatives and has prepared a National Security and Stabilization Plan. It has also made a commitment to form an inclusive administration by reaching out to those outside the peace process. He urges the Government to honour that agreement as well as those made on 15 March with the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a faction, and invites all those who wish to join the peace process to do so without further delay.
He expresses concern, however, that the Transitional Federal Government still lacks the necessary capacity to implement its agenda as the end of the transitional period in Somalia draws to a close, in August 2011. Failure in implementing that agenda would play into the hands of the extremists and adversely affect the plight of the Somali people, he says.
He therefore urges the Somali leaders to maintain cohesion and dialogue within the Transitional Federal Institutions and to focus their energies on overcoming the momentous challenges facing their country. He reiterates his appeal to Member States, in addition, to urgently release their pledged contributions to the Transitional Federal Government and to deliver further direct assistance to it through the Price Waterhouse Coopers facility.
Saying that foreign fighters and various other actors continued to fuel anarchy and to profit from it, he also urges Member States to implement the sanctions regime on Somalia. Concerned over disruptions in humanitarian assistance, he reminds all parties that they are obligated by international law to allow humanitarian access to those in need. He urges donors to remain steadfast in their contributions to meet the urgent needs of 3.2 million Somalis, noting that the lack of adequate funding was already having a negative impact.
Deeply concerned about the impact of conflict on civilians, he condemns the launching of attacks by extremists from populated areas and demands an end to those attacks and that responses to them meet standards of international humanitarian law. All those abusing the rights of the Somali people will be held accountable, he pledges.
Acknowledging the critical efforts to stabilize Somalia by the African Union through the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other initiatives, he stresses the importance of raising the stipends paid to AMISOM troops to a level of other peacekeeping operations and to reimburse troop contributing countries for lethal equipment.
He says that optimal coordination and joint programming between leading United Nations actors on Somalia is critical to maximizing the impact of their activities, and for that reason, he intends to review the Organization's strategy for Somalia. In the meantime, steps will be taken to operationalize the Joint Planning Unit within the office of his Special Representative, as the United Nations continues to implement the three-phased incremental approach outlined in his report of April 2009 (document S/2009/210).
Briefing
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, looking forward to next week's Istanbul Conference on Somalia and noting suggestions that it was either too early or too late for such a high-level gathering, said: "We should all recognize that, after years of anarchy, there will never be a right time in Somalia. We have to act now."
One year ago, he recalled, the Brussels Conference garnered pledges of $213 million to help the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Transitional Federal Government strengthen their security capabilities. As a result, troops were being trained inside and outside Somalia. Ongoing training in Uganda was a joint operation between Africa, the European Union and the United States, with 2,000 troops being prepared in two batches. The new Somali Army Chief needed strong support in that context.
Likewise, he said that AMISOM, which now numbered just under 7,000 and still needed many more battalions, should be strengthened, and at the same time, helped to carry out its duties of protecting the Federal institutions and assisting the needy. The international community could help by providing equipment and salaries, at least for one year, for those forces which had been properly trained. The Memorandum of Understanding signed recently between his office, the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) should facilitate that undertaking.
On the political front, the Transition Federal Government should show strength in unity, determination in action and a common purpose in its policies, he said, pointing out that the international community could help by disbursing pledged resources. There should be a halt of spending of funds and energy on strategies and road maps, to allow for a re-examination of achievements.
The Transitional Federal Government had succeeded in reaching out to other groups committed to peace and stability, he said, noting the agreement signed with Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a, a key religious and resistance movement, which could provide a blueprint for future agreements. He reiterated that the door of peace was open to all Somalis wishing to end the agony of their country.
Noting the significance of a memorandum of understanding signed with Puntland on piracy related issues, he said that to further stem piracy, the Transitional Federal Government and other authorities should be strengthened, and employment schemes for youth should be launched. He also proposed payment of a license fee by countries fishing in Somali waters.
Meanwhile, he said that the humanitarian situation remained horrendous, despite the laudable work of the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other agencies. The international community must address this situation by harmonizing action to end impunity for human rights abuses, as the humanitarian and human rights situation were part and parcel of the same situation. "Once Governments, development agencies, business agencies and non-governmental organizations act together, they can help bring about a major move away from past practices of managing the status quo," he said.
He reiterated that the three inter-related pillars of the peace process -- reconciliation, security and development -- should be addressed simultaneously. At the upcoming Conference, the country's vibrant business community and the international community could make progress on all fronts through a show of solidarity, and through launching new initiatives for reconstruction and job creation.
In addition, if the international community wanted to make a decisive difference, there was no alternative to moving its actors to Mogadishu to be closer to the victims, he said. If action was not taken now, the situation would, sooner or later, force action at a much higher price. The Transitional Federal Government should be supported in a concrete manner and it should be asked to deliver effectively. A peace conference, on the other hand, could only damage prospects for peace and stability by inciting extremists to be more radical and granting them veto power over the future of the people.
The Istanbul Conference, he concluded, was an exceptional opportunity to show that Somalia had true friends ready to make a difference in this year, in which the country celebrated its fiftieth anniversary of independence. In that light, he welcomed the support of the Secretary-General, the Government of Turkey and the entire Security Council.
ABDURAHMAN ADAN IBRAHIM, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, thanked the Security Council for its unwavering support of his country's peace and reconciliation efforts. The Government, despite immense challenges, continued to provide the leadership and wisdom required to advance peace and stability in the country. Yet, that commitment to peace and dialogue, and the determination to rebuild a shattered nation were hampered by the actions of terrorist groups with links to Al-Qaida. Nevertheless, with the help of the international community, the Somali Government would continue to provide coordinated, timely, and sustained engagement, with a view towards countering the insurgency and bringing about lasting peace and security throughout the nation.
Indeed, he declared: "The insurgents' plan to overthrow the Government of National Unity and its attempt to foment further destabilization and chaos in the country has been foiled." The country was now witnessing, following successful efforts to implement the Djibouti Peace Process, an inclusive political process with broad-based support. The President, the Speaker of Parliament, all Parliament members, as well as the Prime Minister and his Cabinet were now all operating in Mogadishu. The Transitional Government had succeeded in exercising its mandate with a great deal of responsibility and devotion, and had embraced the principle of collective leadership.
"It has successfully shattered anything that would potentially elicit differences and undermine cohesiveness among members of the Cabinet, on the one hand and, and between the Government and Parliament on the other," He said. The current discussion between members of the Government must not be construed as "bickering", but as an exercise in Somalia's burgeoning democracy, which would strengthen its international legitimacy and sustain its political legitimacy. He cited important headway with national reconciliation, including with significant members of the Hisbul Islam, who had recently embraced the Government's efforts.
Moreover, some prominent Shabaab commanders and fighters had publicly denounced violence and condemned the crimes perpetrated by radical extremists, he said, adding that some of those members had even decided to defect. Within the framework of the Government's efforts to reach out to those groups outside the peace process, officials had signed a cooperation agreement in mid-March between the Government and Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a, which provided, among other things, for the merging of Government and "ASWJ" forces to counter insurgents. The Government had peacefully brought about stability in certain regions of the country, and it had been able to mediate between the leaders in Galmudug Regional Administration in Central Somalia, convincing them to settle their differences peacefully.
He went on to note other progress, including its efforts to improve the security situation by reorganizing the armed forces. Private militias and Government forces had been re-integrated and were now a part of the Somali national army. Such newly re-integrated forces had been engaged to carry out national duties, and, along with Government forces, had been taken action to expel Shabaab forces from some of the Mogadishu strongholds, as well as along the road that lead to the Bakarah markets. That successful offensive had generated cautious optimism and provided some relief for AMISOM forces, which had been subjected to continuous attacks in those areas.
He stressed that peace, stability and security were the key to any meaningful socio-economic development, as well as to the delivery of humanitarian assistance. United Nations peacekeepers, if deployed, could achieve that, with the help of the Government and AMISOM forces. His Government welcomed deployment of East Brigade Forces from the Intergovernmental Authority for Development. Turning to constitution-making, he said the Government had embarked on a process of building the capacity of the institutions that would be involved in that drafting exercise. New members of the Federal Constitution Commission had been sworn in and the various other stakeholders were now "brainstorming" on the way forward.
Highlighting other priorities set out by the Government, he noted, among others, the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the needy and internally displaced; formulation of a comprehensive national security strategy; consolidation of good governance, accountability transparency and justice in all State institutions; rebuilding of the country's infrastructure to promote economic recovery; and strengthening good relations, mutual understanding and cooperation among the countries of the region.
While thanking the Council for its unwavering support, he said that after 20 years of reports, missions, statements, assessments, and embargoes, as well as the proliferation of meetings and conferences on the situation in Somalia, "it is high time to come up with a paradigm shift that looks at the situation differently". He believed that, given meaningful collaboration on security sector matters, the Government would be in a much better place to make progress in other areas, such as humanitarian assistance, human rights, combating piracy, and attaining the Millennium Development Goals.
He appealed to Member States and the Council to take urgent decisions to unequivocally support the Somali Government so that, in turn, the Government could support the people of the country more effectively. "I am obliged to repeat that any small, hesitant, half-hearted measures... and protracted delays will only increase the intransigence of extremist die-hard elements," he said. Overall, he believed that Somalia faced challenges, but also enormous opportunities. "In our view, the opportunities in Somalia far outweigh the risks. We hope and pray that we achieve a new momentum."
RAMTANE LAMAMRA, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, said that assisting a Somali Government to exercise sovereignty throughout its territory would be the best way of marking the country's fiftieth anniversary of independence. And the best way of accomplishing that would be to strengthen the international partnership in support of Somalia, particularly the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, for which Burundian and Ugandan troops were performing valiantly in the country.
He noted positive developments of the first part of this year, including the agreement signed on 15 March between Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a, which he said could have wide-reaching effects. In addition, international support for AMISOM had the potential of bringing about a fundamental transformation of the political-security landscape. Assistance to the Somali security forces was crucial for that purpose as well. More such assistance and bringing the conditions of AMISOM up to those of a normal peacekeeping operation would strengthen such positive trends.
Future strategies should focus on security in the current Somali context, as well as on the rebuilding of the State and renewed humanitarian action and development projects, he said, urging more support and welcoming international conferences and other cooperation for that purpose. The fight against piracy should focus on the elimination of the underlying causes, as well as the strengthening of forces, including AMISOM, to counter the scourge.
Much had been done by the international community and Somalis, and much remained to be done, he concluded. The quest for stability in Somalia was ongoing and was making progress, even with its imperfections, and it must be pursued to its completion. He pledged that the African Union would carry out its commitments to that end.
Statements
PHILIP JOHN PARHAM ( United Kingdom) said the situation remained of deep concern, with worsening a humanitarian situation and ongoing attacks against civilians. He condemned such attacks and called as well for an end to attacks directed against AMISOM and humanitarian workers and facilities. He applauded the efforts of AMISOM and welcomed the Government's efforts at reconciliation, including the recent signing of an agreement with the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a, as an important step forward in the political arena. Still, there were fewer than 15 months before the transition was set to be completed under the Djibouti Agreement, and it was clear that much remained to be done.
He said that ongoing violence in Somalia had a destabilizing effect on the region and the continent as a whole. It hindered cooperation in the region in areas of common interest and promoted mistrust rather than dialogue. The most serious impact of the ongoing violence and tension was on the Somali people themselves. Indeed, they had suffered for far too long, and the attacks on humanitarian workers, including those that had caused WFP to curtail it activities, had only compounded the problem.
Over the past few years, the United Kingdom had provided more than $60 million to support various activities in Somalia. It also played an important role in the European Union piracy mission. The United Kingdom believed in the need for a strong United Nations lead in Somalia, especially to ensure stronger cooperation in Nairobi and an enhanced presence in Mogadishu. All United Nations entities must work in a concerted manner, despite the difficulties. Still, as the United Nations could not carry out all the urgent tasks alone, more international cooperation was needed. The future of Somalia was ultimately in the hands of the Somali people, and he welcomed recent efforts by the Government, including in areas of political outreach and national reconciliation, and urged even greater strides in the future. Nevertheless, he said: "The clock is ticking and we risk losing the rare moment of opportunity provided by the Djibouti agreement."
BROOKE D. ANDERSON ( United States) said her country continued to view the situation in Somalia with "deep concern". Stability in that country depended on effective governance underpinned by inclusive political dialogue. As such, the United States supported the Djibouti peace process, which should remain the primary focus of all parties. She urged all groups interested in peace to come to the table. She went on to welcome the Memorandum of Understanding with the Puntland Administration on cooperation on piracy, as well as the framework agreement with the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a.
She urged the Government to make even more progress on its federal and transitional agenda by, among others, expanding the provision of basic social services, fostering an integrated security force, and providing more support to the country's various regions. Among other actions that could help stabilize the country, the Government must provide young people with employment opportunities that offered viable alternatives to extremism and militancy. The United States hoped the upcoming Istanbul Conference would generate support for investments in Somalia's infrastructure and in training programmes for Somali citizens.
With greater security, the Government could make greater gains, she continued. Yet, "spoilers" still took actions that risked Somalia's future. It was necessary, therefore, for all States to ensure that the measures adopted by the Security Council were fully implemented, including the assets freeze, travel ban and targeted arms embargo, to undercut the activities of Al-Shabaab and other spoilers. She expressed support for the work of AMISOM and urged more States to contribute technical and troop support to its operation. The United States was ready to provide support for pre-deployment training and equipment to any countries willing to provide troops to AMISOM.
She said that reports citing increased child recruitment were deeply troubling. That practice was appalling and the United States condemned it and urged all parties to release the children being held within their ranks. As for the dire humanitarian situation, some 3.2 million Somalis now needed food and non-food assistance. The United States was committed to meeting the needs of those civilians and condemned all efforts by Al-Shabaab and others to obstruct aid delivery. The United States was also committed to seeing peace and stability take hold in Somalia, and she urged the Government to continue its steady course to ensure the future, which the people of that country deserved.
ERTU?RUL APAKAN ( Turkey) noted positive developments in Somalia, particularly the 15 March agreement, which showed the results of the outreach of the Transitional Federal Government and proved that there was no substitute for a political settlement. He called totally unacceptable, however, the ongoing human rights and humanitarian situation. He expressed gratitude to AMISOM and called for adequate support for it, while noting the importance of also strengthening the Government's security structures. The Transitional Federal Government should continue with its efforts to become more functional and inclusive, while completing the drafting of a constitution, progress on which had been impressive.
He said that the international community must support the consolidation of gains, through assistance to both development and security. For that reason, Turkey was hosting the Istanbul Conference, from 21 to 23 May, which was expected to be attended by a number of heads of State and Government and was meant to support all three pillars of the Djibouti Agreement. The conference was not just a donor's conference; on its third day, strategies to stimulate the Somali economy and job creation would be discussed, in conjunction with the private sector. He hoped to send a strong message from Istanbul to the Somali people, telling them they were not alone.
VITALY CHURKIN ( Russian Federation) agreed with the assessment of the briefers that State authority was growing through the Government's efforts, but he remained concern by the strength and activities of the extremists in the country. The African Union mission was definitely a stabilizing factor, he said, also advocating for its adequate support. In addition, the work of the United Nations agencies should be better coordinated with each other and other actors.
He supported strengthening the sanctions regime, but said that targeted sanctions must be based on reliable information. On piracy, he supported fighting the threat, and acknowledged that prosecution of pirates was a problem. He noted the suggestions for international mechanisms, but stressed that underlying causes must be addressed to eliminate the problem. It was a priority to extend Government Authority throughout the country, he added.
NICOLAS DE RIVIÈRE ( France) said his country supported the Transitional Federal Government, especially as the situation in Somalia remained fragile. Indeed, extremists attacks against the Government and civilians were cause for concern. France also supported the holding of the Istanbul Conference. But progress rested