ReliefWeb

SC/10566

Security Council
6729th Meeting (AM & PM)

Ahead of Open Debate, Secretary-General Warns New Window of Opportunity ‘Narrow’;
His Representative Agrees ‘We Do Not Have Luxury of Time’, Urgent Action Required

Security Council members affirmed this morning that the period of political transition in Somalia must end in August and that, in order to meet that deadline, the country’s leaders, supported by the international community, must use the results of the 23 February London Conference to pursue a comprehensive strategy for peace, security and development.

“There will be no further extension of the transitional period,” the Council stressed through a statement read out by Henry Bellingham, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating presidency this month. Today’s agreement preceded an open debate following up on the Conference as well as the 22 February adoption of resolution 2036 (2012) expanding the authorized deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) both in troop strength, geographical reach and means of reducing the threat from the Islamist rebel group Al-Shabaab.

“Maintaining this momentum is critical,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said ahead of the read-out of the statement. He encouraged the entire international community to support the implementation of the communiqué produced by the Conference. “A new window of opportunity for peace and stability has opened. But it is a narrow window. All stakeholders must act with urgency and unity of purpose,” he added.

Mr. Ban’s Special Representative in Somalia and Head of the United Nations Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS), Augustine Mahiga, briefed on challenges including consolidating stability in areas recently liberated from Al-Shabaab, overcoming political challenges, such as the stalemate within Somalia’s Transitional Federal Parliament, and dealing with “spoilers” of the peace process, providing necessary services to the people and bolstering humanitarian mechanisms to fend off a recurrence of famine, all within the narrow window cited by the Secretary-General. “We do not have the luxury of time,” he declared, adding that “we are faced with a situation that demands urgent action.”

Through the presidential statement, the Council welcomed commitments made at the London Conference to work for a more representative government in Somalia, as well as relocation of UNPOS to Mogadishu, encouraging the United Nations to achieve a more permanent, full relocation there when security conditions allowed. In line with resolution 2036 (2012), the Council called for further support to AMISOM from existing and new partners. It also called for increased support to the Somali security and justice sectors.

Affirming the need for effective governance and provision of services in Somalia, the Council underlined the need for further efforts to fight corruption and promote transparency in institutions of the country. It supported efforts to expand existing stabilization plans to new sectors and welcomed increased international support to that effort. Affirming also that significant humanitarian needs continued even if the famine had ended, it called for effective assistance and demanded unhindered access to those in need.

Finally in the statement, the Council welcomed new commitments made at the London Conference to repress piracy and renewed international action to address terrorist attacks by Al-Shabaab and other groups. It welcomed the intention of the Government of Turkey to hold the next conference on Somalia in Istanbul.

Following the reading of the statement, more than 30 representatives of Council members and interested countries took the floor to welcome the recent gains made in Somalia and urge that Somali stakeholders, with international support, ensure that those gains were consolidated through timely implementation of the agreed road map to complete transitional tasks. Most called for enhanced support to AMISOM as well as to the nascent Somali security and justice sectors and to the fund for localities newly freed from Al-Shabaab control, as well as continued efforts to suppress piracy off the coast and build capacity for prosecution of pirates in the region.

British Under-Secretary Bellingham, speaking in his national capacity, expressed gratitude for the wide participation in the London Conference and said that it was critical to ensure that the Somali-led political process was truly representative and open to all those willing to reject violent opposition. He stressed that pressure must be put on potential spoilers while support offered to those contributing to positive developments, and he underlined the need for the Somali people to see a peace dividend in the form of development progress.

Somalia’s representative, endorsing statements made by Council members today, hailed the London Conference, saying that it stood out from the other 19 international conferences that had been held on his country since the collapse of the Government in 1991 as it put committed focus on the most critical issues and went well beyond “business as usual”. He affirmed the commitment of Somali leaders to deliver on agreements already made and to end the transition period on time. However, Somalia’s problems were long-standing and complicated and commitments from all must be followed up through comprehensive partnership. “A long journey is ahead,” he said.

Also speaking today were the representatives of South Africa, Colombia, France, Portugal, Russian Federation, India, Morocco, Azerbaijan, United States, China, Germany, Guatemala, Pakistan, Togo, Uganda, Kenya, Turkey, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Luxembourg, Egypt, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Kazakhstan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), Sweden, Indonesia, Norway and Ethiopia.

The head of the European Union delegation also made a statement.

The meeting began at 10:10 a.m., suspended at 1:10 p.m., resumed at 3:05 p.m. and adjourned at 4:10 p.m.