S/PV.6386 Security Council

On behalf of the Council, I wish to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Mr. Moses Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Augustine Mahiga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia. It is so decided. I invite Mr. Mahiga to take a seat at the Council table. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend invitations under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to His Excellency Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, and His Excellency Mr. Pedro Serrano, head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. There being no objection, it is so decided. I invite Mr. Antonio and Mr. Serrano to take the seats reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2010/447, containing the report of the Secretary-General on Somalia. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Mr. Augustine Mahiga. I now give the floor to Mr. Mahiga. Mr. Mahiga: I welcome this opportunity to brief the Security Council following my appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. I wish to begin with a briefing on some of the critical developments regarding Somalia that took place since I assumed office. For the past two months, I have held consultations with various Somali stakeholders, including the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a group, and regional and international organizations, as well as civil society organizations. I have just completed consultations with countries in the region, as well as with the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). I consult regularly with envoys and partners on the Somali crisis on how to advance the peace process. Regional leaders have raised concern that the lack of cohesion within the transitional federal institutions encourages insurgents to intensify their military and propaganda campaign against the Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). I have visited Mogadishu three times in the past 10 days to consult with the President on the political impasse. I have undertaken similar initiatives with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament, and urged them to resolve their differences and to continue working together. Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe conveyed a similar message when he visited the region earlier this month and met with President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in Mogadishu. Earlier today, the Somali Parliament adopted a resolution to request the Prime Minister to come before Parliament and seek a vote of confidence. In this context, the Security Council may wish to underscore the need for unity and cohesion in the TFG in addressing insurgency and advancing the peace process. The Transitional Federal Charter and the Djibouti Agreement provide for the establishment of a new, more inclusive and democratic dispensation following the end of the transitional period in August 2011. There are several tasks to be accomplished before the end of the transition. These include continuing the initiatives on reconciliation, building civilian and security institutions, and the completion of the constitution- making process, which could also serve as a vehicle for the Government and Parliament to reach out to the population through wide consultations within Somalia and with the diaspora. Furthermore, the leaders of the transitional federal institutions need to urgently discuss and agree on post-transition arrangements. I have urged the TFG to reach out to more opposition groups, expand the political process and focus on delivering basic services to the people. In this context, the TFG must develop a road map of achievable objectives and clear timelines to be developed for the remaining transitional period. In this context, I have urged the TFG to convene without delay the high-level committee to define a political strategy and tasks to be accomplished prior to the end of the transition. These key elements will define the future institutions of a united, democratic and stable Somalia. I commend AMISOM for ably defending the transitional federal institutions and the vital installations in Mogadishu, and for preventing the recurrent attacks by the terrorist insurgents, led by foreign fighters, from undermining the peace process. While the crisis in Somalia persists, positive opportunities still exist in both the political and security sectors to move the peace process forward. Scaled-up assistance from the international community is needed to make a difference. I am concerned about the security situation in the country and its potential impact on the entire region. The suicide attacks carried out in Kampala on 11 July evidently bear the political and operational hallmarks of the international terrorism that threatens the subregion. Kismaayo has become the entry point for foreign fighters and war materiel for the insurgents, and a scene of criminal activities and illicit trade. There is a need for increased maritime and aviation security to deter such materiel from being used against AMISOM and the TFG. I hope that the Security Council will send a message to those State and non-State actors supporting these illicit activities, deterring them from doing so. Importing radical terrorism has negative effects not only for Somalia but for the entire subregion. The brutal attack on the Muna Hotel in Mogadishu during the holy month of Ramadan left more than 70 people dead, including six parliamentarians. On my second visit to Mogadishu, I witnessed continuous attacks on AMISOM positions by the insurgents armed with light and heavy weapons. During my third visit on 9 September, accompanied by the envoys of the African Union and IGAD, there were suicide attacks by extremists at an AMISOM checkpoint in the approaches to Mogadishu Airport. The operation was foiled but left 14 people dead, including two AMISOM peacekeepers, and several others injured. The insurgents’ operation points to the need to strengthen AMISOM’s defensive capabilities. With only 11 months until the end of the transition period, the TFG and the international community should heighten their political resolve to preserve and expand the fragile peace ushered in by the Djibouti Agreement and protected by AMISOM. The military capability of the TFG should be supported and developed to expand the territorial space and widen the political space for the TFG to operate and reach out to the Somali people. Concerted regional and international support and assistance are required at this very critical stage of the peace process if the TFG is to play the role envisaged by the Djibouti Agreement. In this connection, the decision of IGAD and the AU to deploy in Mogadishu 2,000 additional troops to enable AMISOM reach its authorized strength of 8,000 must be speedily implemented. The initiative of the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr. Johnnie Carson, to help generate more troops, needed equipment and financial support to AMISOM has been well received by IGAD and the AU. The threat level in Mogadishu and in southern Central Somalia has actually increased; therefore IGAD and the African Union foresee the need for a new AMISOM troop level of up to 20,000 in the coming months. The AU Peace and Security Council will soon submit to the United Nations Security Council a request for authorization for increased troop levels for Mogadishu and other strategic locations in Somalia. However, this military strategy needs to be developed within the construct of an overall political strategy. The United Nations support operation for AMISOM has discharged with distinction its mandate to deliver a support package to AMISOM. The AU and the Force Commander have on several occasions expressed their appreciation of these valuable services, which I have had the opportunity to see for myself in Mogadishu. I should also take this opportunity to thank all partners for their collective and bilateral contributions to the United Nations trust funds and direct assistance to the TFG. In the immediate future, support to the security sector and building the TFG’s institutional capacities stand out as top priorities. I should also bring to the attention of the Council the outstanding work performed by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). This effort by UNMAS staff has dramatically reduced casualties among civilians and AMISOM peacekeepers. Through their efforts, we have significantly reduced the number of AMISOM troop casualties since last year. It is not the number of initiatives for Somalia that is in deficit, but concrete and practical actions on the ground. As we all realize the dangerous conditions in which the TFG and AMISOM troops operate, I appeal to all Member States to move from the usual political commitments to more practical actions. While one appreciates the value of the support so far extended to AMISOM, gaps — such as lack of helicopter support for troop lift and casualty evacuation — still exist in financial and material support to the Mission. I therefore would like to stress the importance of the predictable and timely provision of these resources to AMISOM and TFG security forces during this crucial time. Furthermore, AMISOM troop allowances should match those paid under United Nations peacekeeping operations. Of equal importance is the proper equipping of AMISOM troops with appropriate means to identify, track, deter or respond to insurgents attacks in a populated urban setting. AMISOM is currently critically short of means to prevent civilian casualties and lacks adequate surveillance and operational intelligence systems. Pre-deployment training in humanitarian law on the protection of civilians remains an important requirement. The protection of United Nations civilian staff to be deployed under the light footprint in Mogadishu and elsewhere is also critical. We are encouraging cooperation between the TFG, Somaliland and Puntland authorities on matters of security, including anti-piracy issues and the movement of people, such as internally displaced persons. Somaliland and Puntland indeed serve as role models to the rest of Somalia, illustrating that peace and stability can be achieved. Additionally, we will continue to advocate for and mobilize more support to the TFG, Puntland and Somaliland in other forums, such as the forthcoming international Contact Group meeting in Madrid later this month and the mini-summit on Somalia that the Secretary-General will convene here in New York on 23 September. The Istanbul Conference earlier this year was also a useful forum for profiling Somalia’s present and future needs and encouraging private- sector involvement. A follow-up implementation meeting to the Conference is envisaged. The humanitarian situation in Somalia remains dire. The sustained attacks on TFG and AMISOM positions by the insurgents have compounded the suffering of innocent civilians, particularly in Mogadishu. A growing number of civilians, including those who had recently returned to their homes, have had to flee the capital as the fighting has intensified. Refugees continue to arrive in neighbouring countries and are a major concern to those countries. The international community ought to make more assistance available to address the persistent humanitarian crisis. That there is a need for greater cooperation and coordination among the three United Nations entities — the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM and the country team — cannot be overemphasized. Recommendations on approaches to integration have been laid out, but implementation has stalled. I have initiated senior policy group meetings among the heads of the three United Nations entities, and a joint planning mechanism is being put in place. However, there is a need for greater impetus in moving the integration process forward, consistent with practices elsewhere and the prevailing trend for greater cohesion in the United Nations system. UNPOS has also initiated its regional deployment of international staff in Somaliland and Puntland. I request and encourage the Council to remain engaged and seized with the situation in Somalia, which, unlike many African conflicts, contains multiple threats to international peace and security: a protracted civil war, international terrorism, international piracy and international trafficking. Experience in Somalia has shown that the more delayed or inadequate the response, the more complex the crisis becomes. We have to act in a comprehensive manner to address these complex challenges.

I thank Mr. Mahiga for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

I thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the opportunity to participate in this discussion on Somalia at this Security Council meeting. I hope to be very brief, although if I could follow my emotions, I believe I would speak for an hour. We are all aware that Somalia has been in deep trouble since the collapse of the central Government in 1990-1991, and the Security Council has been seized with the Somalia question ever since. It is no exaggeration to say that the situation in Somalia has been grave indeed for a considerable time, and is surely a threat to regional and international peace and security. In this connection, I also wish to highlight, with thanks and appreciation, the issues raised in the Secretary- General’s comprehensive report (S/2010/447), as well as the departments and staff who participated in its preparation. I also thank Special Representative Mahiga for his frank, lucid and sincere presentation of the current situation in Somalia. We fully subscribe to the solutions he has just presented, to be acted upon, I submit, with the urgency the situation requires. I do not want to dwell on the details Mr. Mahiga has given; they express the gravity of the situation so well that I subscribe to them completely. I also take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the support that Somalia has received from the United Nations to date, especially with regard to the needs of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Those needs are, unfortunately, in the economic, equipment-related, administrative and financial areas, despite the fact that AMISOM is heroically defending a very critical situation, and that without it the Somali Government would have collapsed a long time ago. We therefore hope that AMISOM will be given all the support it needs to deal with the real problems facing the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Somalia in general. On the issue of piracy and terrorist activities, we see a clear link between the continuing instability on land and the increased acts of terrorism and piracy. Simply put, we cannot afford to treat piracy and terrorism in isolation. We must look at the real root causes and do something about those too. We are deeply concerned about the constant negative and hostile media coverage of the sincere efforts of the African Union (AU), the United Nations, the World Food Programme, AMISOM and the Transitional Federal Government and institutions. To us, this negative, hostile coverage is not an accident, but looks like part of a larger effort to keep Somalia destabilized and give ammunition to the propaganda machinery of the terrorists. We therefore hope that the media will collaborate with the TFG, the AU, AMISOM, the United Nations and the international community in their support of all of Somalia’s efforts. I take this opportunity to call on the Security Council to make some significant decisions on Somalia that will enable my country to stabilize, rehabilitate and reconstruct, bearing in mind Mr. Mahiga’s constructive presentation. We hope that we will see more positive action this time than we have in the past 20 years.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Moses Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya.

It is my privilege and honour to speak to the Council this morning on a country that has for a long time remained a source of collective shame for the international community, a country that is a source of insecurity and many difficulties in the East African and Horn of Africa region. The situation in Somalia can be described as dire, as Mr. Mahiga put it, because we have armed groups that operate at will and are overrunning virtually the whole country. As we all know, Somalia has not had a government for 20 years now. It is plagued by war, violence and instability. Through regional initiatives, particularly through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), supported by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations, negotiations were conducted in Kenya leading to the signing of the Transitional Federal Charter. The Charter gave birth to several institutions, including a parliament, a Government and other functioning institutions, albeit very weak ones. The Transitional Federal Charter comes to an end in August next year. As we face the sunset of the Charter, there is heightened fighting, a lack of effective central government and a rapid growth in the number of incidents of terrorism and piracy. A group called Al-Shabaab has virtually overrun the Government, and were it not for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which continues to hold the fort around Villa Somalia, Al-Shabaab would perhaps have overrun the whole Government by now. Indeed, we know that they have carried out several successful attacks on Villa Somalia. The situation in Somalia is now overflowing into its neighbours. On the day of the finals of the World Cup in South Africa, very devastating, cowardly and wicked attacks were carried out in our neighbouring country, Uganda, where a large number of lives was lost, lives of both Ugandan nationals and Kenyan nationals. It has turned out, as claimed by the group itself, that this attack was mounted by Al-Shabaab using collaborators and agents from within the region. In fact, some of the arrested suspects are young people, of both Somali and non-Somali ethnic backgrounds, from Kenya. This fact brings very close to home — to my country — the real possibility of the chaos in Somalia spilling over to Kenya. Indeed, the Al-Shabaab leadership has repeatedly proclaimed that the next target of attack will be Nairobi, Kenya, Bujumbura, Burundi and other neighbouring capitals, such as Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As I have said, the story of Somalia is not new. There has been no lack of initiatives. I think that what has been lacking is the commitment to see those initiatives through. I want to emphasize the need to recognize the centrality of IGAD in trying to resolve the problems of Somalia. IGAD, as an organization, has been acting as the representative of the AU, and to some degree in collaboration with the United Nations. Through IGAD, a negotiated Charter was signed. Through IGAD, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed, and in collaboration with the United Nations the Djibouti process that put in place the current Government was undertaken. Sometimes, as a region, we feel a little nervous to see a proliferation of initiatives and meetings and conferences in several capitals. These are helpful, but sometimes nonetheless born out of inadequate consultative processes. I want to laud the meeting we had in Istanbul, chaired by the Secretary-General and supported by the AU, where among the many things agreed upon was that IGAD was going to remain central to the process of pushing Somali issues forward. Indeed, the Secretary-General stated then that initiatives that will come thereafter will be called IGAD-plus initiatives, for us to be able to chaperone the Somali problems. After the Istanbul conference, we had a meeting of IGAD at the summit level in Addis Ababa where several positive and proactive pronouncements were made. First, it was acknowledged that the Government in Somalia was extremely weak and was in a state that required very urgent intervention. Secondly, it was agreed that IGAD, the AU and the international community, including the United Nations, should shift gears from business-as-usual engagement on Somalia and take a more proactive and better defined trajectory towards seeing how to help this unfortunate neighbouring country. Thirdly, it was agreed, that while AMISOM had an authorized required force of 8,100, even if that optimal number were achieved, it would remain inadequate. The region set a figure of a 20,000- to 22,000-strong force, but also agreed and acknowledged that the problem for Somalia was not and is not the lack of troops; it is the lack of will of the international community to bring troops together. It was noted that there are troops that have been trained by countries of the region — Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda. There are also offers from Tanzania and some other southern African countries to train more troops. It was equally noted that, through the AU peace and security architecture and the birth of the Eastern Africa Standby Force, we have a 15,000-strong troop contingent available that can be effectively put to use in Somalia. It was also agreed that the region, particularly IGAD and the AU, will want to see a joint approach in which we have a coordinated joint command but with AMISOM at the apex of the Eastern African Standby Force, troops trained by neighbours at the request of the TFG and the international community, and then other troops that may be available so that the approach to bringing normalcy to Somalia is not disjointed. This approach, in Kenya’s view, is predicated on the fact that it is seeking not a military solution to the problems of Somalia but a process of securing the integrity of the territory of Somalia and giving capacity and strength to the Government of Somalia, because a Government is no Government if it is not able to provide for the peace and security of its people and secure the territorial integrity of its country. We did this knowing that we have constantly encouraged the Transitional Federal Government to reach out to its opponents to discuss and find a lasting solution to the problems of their country. This was reiterated in Kampala at the African Union summit where, apart from the pronouncement by the AU, there was a mini-IGAD summit, also attended by the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs of the United States, Johnnie Carson, and IGAD partners, which include several European countries and the United States. This point was overwhelmingly endorsed and immediately achievable goals were set in place. Raising 2,000 troops within 20 days has not been done. We are closing in on the goal of raising an additional 2,000 troops within 60 days, but we have not met the first benchmark. There was also an undertaking by the United States to call upon our richer friends — particularly from Europe, though Japan and others were mentioned — to put some money in the basket to enable the troops we are putting together, which will not be within the framework of AMISOM but under a coordinated command with AMISOM, to be paid their monthly stipends and rations so that they will be able to carry out their duties. I hope that together we will be able to see this happen. Since Kampala, no meeting has been called. We hope that after the General Assembly gathering of heads of State, we can return to Africa and have a meeting to be coordinated, we hope, by the United States, which co-chaired the Kampala meeting, and the United Nations. As the Council can see, it is not lack of initiatives that is the problem in Somalia. It is the failure to fulfil our promises and the lack of a coordinated approach in our engagement with Somalia. We fully welcome the appointment of Ambassador Mahiga. As he is a son of the region, I have no doubt that he will be able to understand even better the problems of Somalia. In our meetings, we have clearly indicated to him that it does not matter how many warships we may deploy to fight piracy; as long as Somalia remains chaotic, piracy will be born on land and manifested at sea. And if the TFG were to collapse — and god forbid that should occur — and the group called Al-Shabaab were to pursue an agenda and ideology whose foundation is the destruction of all non-Muslim people in region, as a country and as a neighbour we would be uncomfortable with a situation like that. We have no problem with Islam as a religion, and let nobody make any mistake about that because in my country we have a very large Muslim population. We have Muslim ministers, but we are a secular State and a secular State we want to remain. I would want to urge the Security Council to enforce some of the decisions that we have made in the region. For instance, IGAD recommended the imposition of targeted sanctions on certain aspects of Somalia, including airfields in the hands of Al-Shabaab and other negative elements and the blockade of the port of Kismaayo, which is the main supply line for Al-Shabaab. The AU endorsed that, and through this process the United Nations imposed some targeted sanctions on the State of Eritrea, which to us in the region remains one of the principal collaborators and suppliers of Al-Shabaab. We want to see this process enforced. I can assure you, Mr. President, and Ambassador Mahiga will bear witness for me on this, that if the port of Kismaayo were blockaded, 70 per cent of the strength of Al-Shabaab would be dealt a blow because it is the principal supply line and only about 70 kilometres from the international boundary with Kenya. The Council can see what type of situation that puts my country’s peace in. As I come to an end, I also want to urge the United Nations to support the region in formulating — perhaps through Mr. Mahiga’s Office — a very robust and clear communication strategy to counter the propaganda from Al-Shabaab. It runs powerful radio stations and powerful communications tools that overshadow or overrun any Government initiative in Somalia. The most important point is to now address the sunset days of the Transitional Federal Charter, which will expire in August 2011. It has given birth to legitimate institutions that have helped run Somalia and to legitimate engagement between nations and the Government of Somalia. IGAD has already pronounced itself on this, and we have looked at the Charter and at the clauses that might allow the extension the life of the Charter. But we do not want to extend the life of the Charter only to sustain the status quo. We would want to extend the life of the Charter on the basis of reason and thinking that will make a difference and achieve that which we probably will not have achieved during the first life of the Charter. That can be done, and the region will be able to midwife those efforts. We hope to see the international community come together in a more coherent, proactive and sincere manner to assist the region to help Somalia.

I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): I would like to thank this morning the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Mr. Augustine Mahiga, for his first appearance in his new capacity in the Security Council. I would also like to thank the honourable Foreign Minister of Kenya for his very heartfelt and thoughtful and insightful contribution to our discussion today, and the Permanent Representative of Somalia for his contribution to the debate. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his latest report (S/2010/447) and for the briefing that the Special Representative gave us this morning. We greatly appreciate the work of the Special Representative, including that of his predecessor, his team and all the United Nations agencies active in Somalia. The United Kingdom looks forward to working closely with him on the Somalia issue, and we offer him our full support. The situation in Somalia continues to be of deep concern. There have been a few bright spots, as the Secretary-General’s report spells out. The free and fair presidential elections in Somaliland in July led to a peaceful transfer of power from one Government to another. But that is hugely overshadowed by some very distressing incidents, including the Kampala bombings, the attack on the Muna hotel, and the attacks by armed opposition groups in Mogadishu during the holy month of Ramadan. These have been shocking reminders of the impact of instability in Somalia, both on the Somali people and on the wider region. The Minister set out very starkly today the immediate threat to Kenya from the instability in Somalia. We extend our deepest sympathy to the Government of Uganda, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Somali people for the tragic losses they have suffered. I pay particular tribute to Uganda and Burundi for their continuing commitment to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the difficult operation they face in Somalia. We unreservedly condemn any attacks on AMISOM, including attacks on the Transitional Federal Government and the Somali people. It is essential that all parties fully support the Djibouti peace process and join efforts to bring peace to Somalia. There are only 11 months remaining of the transitional period, as defined by the Djibouti Agreement. Important transitional tasks still need to be completed. It is imperative that the Transitional Federal Government and the international community intensify their efforts towards a more peaceful and stable Somalia. I would like to make five points this morning on the United Nations operation in Somalia, the political situation, peacekeeping, the problem of piracy and the humanitarian situation. First, we welcome the Secretary-General’s work to review the United Nations operation in Somalia and his efforts to encourage better coordination between the United Nations agencies. We must have a more coherent and integrated United Nations approach if the United Nations is to deliver the strong leadership that we all want to see. We welcome the Secretary- General’s plans to increase the United Nations presence in Somalia. We do not underestimate the difficulties, but we need all parts of the United Nations working in an integrative manner to deliver a single strategy. We look forward to seeing further details of how this can be achieved. Secondly, greater United Nations engagement cannot deliver progress without political leadership from the TFG. We urge the TFG to intensify its efforts towards dialogue and reconciliation and to deliver better governance and reform of the security sector. The constitutional process provides an opportunity for the TFG to reach out to those outside the Djibouti process and to give them a stake in Somalia’s future. The TFG must resolve its internal differences, which are deeply damaging. There can be no successful military strategy in a political vacuum. The actions of spoilers also need to be addressed. Arming, training and supporting armed opposition groups in Somalia, particularly Al-Shabaab, has a serious destabilizing effect. The AMISOM Force Commander made that clear when he briefed Council members on Monday this week, and the Foreign Minister has reinforced that message to the Council today. Those actions are also in contravention of Security Council resolutions. We strongly support the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in calling on all parties to abide by their obligations and work to foster peace in Somalia and the wider region, and the Council must assume its responsibilities in this respect. Thirdly, AMISOM continues to play a vital role in providing security. We welcome the recent announcement by the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and those in the region about plans to increase the number of AMISOM troops. And we agree with the three briefers this morning that AMISOM and the TFG security forces in Somalia need more support. The United Kingdom was pleased to be able to contribute $1.5 million to AMISOM earlier this year for radio support, in addition to the $15 million we have already given via the trust fund. We will continue to look at how we can provide support in the future. It is essential that AMISOM and the TFG receive adequate funding, and we look forward to discussing this issue in more detail with the Secretary-General. Fourthly, the international community must also continue its efforts through the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, and we look forward to the comprehensive report that will be presented to the Security Council in October on this issue. Finally, the most serious impact of the instability in Somalia is on the Somali people themselves. The humanitarian situation remains deeply worrying and has been compounded by recent fighting and attacks on humanitarian workers and their compounds by armed opposition groups, including Al-Shabaab. We hope that the World Food Programme will be able to restore its programmes in southern central Somalia as soon as it is safe to do so. Now more than ever, the United Nations must show strong leadership in Somalia, and the international community must do all it can to ensure that the United Nations has the support it needs. We welcome Mr. Mahiga’s determination to give that leadership, and we look forward to discussing these issues further at next week’s high-level meeting.

I want to begin by thanking Special Representative Mahiga for his comprehensive and very informative briefing, and for his active leadership on behalf of Somalia. I also want to salute the Foreign Minister of Kenya and the Permanent Representative of Somalia for their very powerful presentations, which, as I think Council members could see, had an impact on all of us as we listened. The United States shares the Secretary-General’s view of the exceedingly dangerous situation in Somalia. Long-term security and stability in Somalia depend on a stable and effective Government. We continue to support the Djibouti peace process, and we call upon the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to focus on completion of the transitional tasks in the spirit of inclusivity envisioned in the peace process. We also urge the TFG to work out its differences, in the interest of the people of Somalia. Supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is key both to stabilizing Mogadishu and to advancing the Somali peace process. We welcome and we commend Uganda’s and Burundi’s increased troop contributions to AMISOM, which now has a force of nearly 7,000. We salute their sacrifices, and we thank the forces and their Governments for their sustained commitment and support. We call on troop- contributing countries to increase their support to AMISOM so that it can reach its mandated strength. Since AMISOM’s deployment, in 2007, the United States has obligated more than $185 million to provide logistic support, equipment and pre-deployment training to its forces. We again encourage other nations to step forward with additional bilateral contributions. The United States recognizes the calls to increase AMISOM troop levels beyond the current mandated strength and the various proposals to expand United Nations assessed funding for AMISOM. We are currently reviewing those proposals and will give them thorough consideration. We look forward to receiving more details from the Secretariat, the African Union (AU) and AMISOM. The United States condemns the increased fighting in Somalia. We also denounce the several recent Al-Shabaab attacks, including the 24 August attack at the Hotel Muna, the 30 August attack on the presidential palace in Mogadishu and the 9 September attack on the AMISOM position at the airport, which left TFG ministers, AMISOM peacekeepers and innocent civilians dead. Such incidents demonstrate the need for continued support to AMISOM to counter groups such as Al-Shabaab and others that work to destabilize the TFG and inflict further chaos on the Somali people. We remain deeply concerned as well about piracy off the coast of Somalia. Long-term security and stability in Somalia are necessary, as has been underscored, to address the root causes of piracy, and we anticipate an active discussion of the linkages between security and development during the next meeting of the International Contact Group on Somalia later this month. At the same time, we must respond to the immediate challenges that piracy poses. The United Nations recently published a report (S/2010/394) on options for better prosecuting and imprisoning pirates. The United States remains committed to working together to address piracy off the Somali coast, including on issues of prosecution and incarceration. The United States is deeply concerned as well about the victims of incidents of sexual violence in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Deliberately targeting vulnerable populations undermines stability and exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation. The United States also strongly condemns the use of children to pursue violent agendas. We call on all parties to immediately release all children within their ranks, to halt child recruitment and to provide for the proper reintegration into civilian life of former child soldiers. Let me say again what I have said before: the only tolerable number of child soldiers is zero; the only tolerable amount of sexual violence is zero. Today’s briefing also underscores the extraordinary strains on the humanitarian situation in Somalia. The United Nations Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit reports that approximately 2 million people will need humanitarian aid between July and December of this year and that thousands continue to be uprooted and displaced every month. The Famine Early Warning System of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) estimates that approximately a quarter of the Somali population remains food-insecure. and malnutrition rates remain at crisis levels. Lack of security and stability continues to worsen this already troubling situation. The United States remains deeply committed to responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia. We condemn Al-Shabaab’s obstruction of aid delivery to more than a million Somalis. We also strongly condemn targeted attacks on humanitarian aid workers, kidnappings and extortion by Al-Shabaab and other violent extremists, which further hamper the provision of life-saving humanitarian aid. In closing, let me reiterate that the United States remains committed to seeing peace and stability take hold in Somalia for the sake of the Somali people and the region. We continue to support the Djibouti peace process and Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and its efforts to bring security and stability to a country that has already endured far too much.

I thank Ambassador Mahiga for his comprehensive briefing, and I reiterate today my delegation’s firm support for his difficult work. I also welcome the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and thank him for his statement, which, as rightly observed by Ambassador Susan Rice, had a very strong impact on all of us. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Somalia among us this morning. Less than one year before the conclusion of the transitional period in Somalia, we must make an objective assessment of where we stand and where we are headed. It is undeniable that some progress has been made, the most important elements of which are the preservation of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the resumption of parliamentary activity. At the same time, it is clear that the challenges remain daunting. The heinous attacks in Kampala and the recent violence perpetrated by Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu — in defiance even of Ramadan — provide compelling evidence of this. It is also disturbing that the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has not yet been able to move from the initial phase of its original plan to stabilize the country. In order to overcome the current deadly stagnation, there is a need to more firmly combine enhanced political efforts and increased military power. Regarding the first aspect, it is very positive that the TFG has been able to reach agreements on cooperation with Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a and regional administrations. Yet, for the past several months, the transitional federal institutions have been mired in disputes within and among themselves. This has deviated attention from the priorities for peace and stability in Somalia, such as expanding political outreach to further broaden the TFG’s support base and completing outstanding transitional tasks. The unity, resolve and public spirit of the transitional federal institutions are indispensable elements of any successful strategy for the stabilization of Somalia. An inclusive and genuine process of consultations, as envisaged for the drafting of the constitution, can also serve as an excellent opportunity to re-energize the political process. With regard to security, AMISOM is to be truly commended. It has been able to ensure the survival of the transitional federal institutions in Mogadishu under relentless attack, secure strategic infrastructure and facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance. This would not have been possible without the sacrifices made by Uganda and Burundi. We also welcome the decision by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to deploy 2,000 troops and enable AMISOM to reach its authorized strength, and the current planning of the African Union (AU) on new phases for the strengthening of AMISOM. It is clear, however, that the Mission needs more help from us. The Security Council, the United Nations and the international community as a whole should complement the subregional and regional efforts. We appreciate the progress towards a light footprint of the United Nations in Mogadishu and elsewhere in Somalia, and on the provision of the support package by the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM. Brazil looks forward to the Secretary- General’s proposals on an integrated United Nations presence in the country as a means to enhance the effectiveness and coherence of United Nations activities on the ground. One major concern is the lack of comprehensive, coherent, predictable and sustainable financial support to AMISOM and the TFG security forces. It is worrying that, one and a half years after the Brussels Conference, the pledges made there are still not fully disbursed. In addition, the usual multiple earmarks and caveats with respect to the funds disbursed undermine the effectiveness of AMISOM and the TFG security forces in a very challenging environment. We urge donors to consider lifting them without delay. Financial predictability is of particular importance with regard to the remuneration of soldiers. If a steady flow of funding for salaries is not ensured, there is a real danger that efforts and expenses undertaken by donors in training troops may be squandered through their desertion to others who pay better and more regularly. This must be avoided. Raising the standards of support for AMISOM to those of United Nations peacekeeping missions is also important to secure additional troops, especially when we consider the current IGAD/AU plan for increasing the Mission’s authorized strength. We should certainly also do more on the human dimension of the conflict in Somalia. We welcome the discussions among the United Nations, the AU and AMISOM on strengthening the protection of civilians. The proposal to document the most serious violations of human rights and humanitarian laws is worthy of support, especially in a situation where Al-Shabaab is recruiting children as young as nine years old and imposing cruel and degrading punishments such as beheadings, stonings and amputations. Here as well, financing is a serious problem, as we know. Significant gaps remain in humanitarian funding for Somalia, which further worsens the situation of a people already deeply affected by years of violence and lack of effective government. The fact that key activities such as nutrition, health care and water are less than 40 per cent funded is rather troubling. Brazil is trying to do its part. We recently made a voluntary contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP), to be used in Somalia. We hope that WFP can soon be in a position to safely resume its activities in southern central Somalia, beyond Mogadishu. Next year will not only mark the end of the transitional period in Somalia; it will also be the twentieth anniversary of a conflict that has already created a generation of Somalis who do not really know what peace is. It is time for decisive action to put an end to this situation.

I would like to thank Mr. Mahiga for his first briefing to the Council as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, and extend our appreciation for the very strong messages from the Foreign Minister of Kenya and the Permanent Representative of Somalia. Japan continues to be concerned at the very fragile security situation in Somalia, as evidenced by the recent series of terrorist attacks against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), including the latest attack at Mogadishu Airport. It is our view that, in order to stabilize the political and security situation in Somalia, the TFG must first of all strive for political unity and improvement of management within itself. The international community, in particular AMISOM and the United Nations, can then focus on making concerted efforts to support the TFG. Japan hopes that the mini-summit meeting on Somalia at the margins of the new General Assembly session next week will lay a foundation for countries, including donors, to further strengthen and better coordinate their cooperation in support of Somalia. Japan takes note of the efforts of the TFG in promoting the Djibouti process, including the reorganization of its cabinet to include Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, since our last briefing in the Security Council. However, we are concerned that little progress has been made in the political dialogue with moderate opposition groups. Japan believes that it is of the utmost importance that the TFG intensify its efforts to garner support from moderate opposition groups, and that the role of international community is to help to create an environment conducive to that end. The role of AMISOM is significant for protecting the TFG and maintaining security in Mogadishu. In this regard, we pay tribute to the troop-contributing countries, Burundi and Uganda, for their dedication and commitment. Japan also appreciates the efforts of the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development to achieve the mandated AMISOM troop level of 8,000, as authorized by resolution 1910 (2010). In this context, we welcome the recent deployment of an additional battalion by Uganda, and hope that other countries that have pledged deployments will follow through. We recognize that the steady implementation of United Nations logistical support to AMISOM is very important in supporting the Mission’s work. In this regard, Japan is ready to continue consultations on the issue of AMISOM contingent-owned equipment, taking into account the course of discussions in the Security Council towards adopting relevant resolutions. We believe that this issue must be discussed as part of an integrated strategy, under which the strengthening of AMISOM will contribute to the political process in Somalia. The efforts of the TFG and AMISOM need to be reinforced by the support of the international community, including the United Nations. In this regard, Japan appreciates the engagement of Mr. Mahiga and the Secretariat in establishing a light footprint presence in Mogadishu. Japan further appreciates the continuing provision of humanitarian assistance under very difficult circumstances. Japan, for its part, has been actively engaged in discussion on Somalia issues in the Security Council, the International Contact Group on Somalia and other forums, and has provided assistance of $124.4 million since 2007, focusing on two pillars: humanitarian assistance and restoration of infrastructure, on the one hand; and the strengthening of security in Somalia, mainly through the trust funds, in support of Somali security institutions and AMISOM, on the other. We are determined to continue our engagement to support Somalia, in cooperation with all Member States.

First of all, I should like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mahiga, for the briefing he has just given us and to hail his courage when on 9 September he was confronted with an attack on the airport in Mogadishu, where he was to meet President Sharif, accompanied by the Special Representative of the Chair of the African Union Commission and the Special Envoy of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). I would also like to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and the Permanent Representative of Somalia for the candour and the clarity of their statements. I note their commitment to work for stability in Somalia. As emphasized by the report of the Secretary- General (S/2010/447), the security situation in Somalia is deteriorating in a troubling way. The offensive launched by extremists in recent weeks has led to violent clashes in Mogadishu. The militias control today a significant portion of the capital, threaten the headquarters of the transitional institutions and are capable of infiltrating neighbourhoods controlled by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Attacks against parliamentarians on 24 August and against representatives of the international community and the President of Somalia at the airport a week ago, are evidence of that. In Somalia the main day-to-day victims of terrorists are civilians. In the past four months, 1,600 civilians have been admitted to Mogadishu hospitals as a result of fighting, including 400 children under 5 years of age. Insecurity also undermines the TFG’s reconstruction efforts and harms economic development in the country. The capacity of Al-Shabaab to cause harm also extends beyond the borders of Somalia and involves the entire region, as shown by the bloody attacks in Kampala on 11 July. Finally, instability in Somalia is still fertile ground for the piracy that threatens offshore sea lanes. In this context, we welcome the commitment of the Ugandan and Burundian troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which makes it possible to secure key infrastructure in the capital and that of the transitional institutions. The entire international community must continue to support them. While IGAD and the African Union announced in July an increase of AMISOM troops to 8,000, the assistance that new contributors could provide would no doubt be critical. For its part, France is actively contributing to the efforts of the international community in Somalia. Let me recall that in 2009 we trained 500 TGF soldiers. We are working with the European Union to train 2,000 Somali soldiers. Moreover, France has trained 5,600 AMISOM soldiers over the past three years, and today, with our European partners, we are financing soldiers of the force. We are also contributing to the United Nations logistical support package for AMISOM. Finally, France is involved in Operation Atalanta to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. Support for Government forces and AMISOM cannot take place without a genuine strategy coordinated with the political action of the TFG. The United Nations has a role to play in this matter. Politically and on the ground, the support of the countries of the region is necessary for success. In the spirit of the Djibouti Agreement the TFG has in recent months made efforts to broaden its political base. The rapprochement with Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a is an important step, which must be solidified. Work on drafting a constitution is also proceeding. Still, we expect more from the TFG. Disputes among the representatives of the transitional institutions have undermined their action and are unacceptable. Gestures must be made towards all who have agreed to renounce violence. Similarly, regular dialogue must be conducted by the TFG with the regions of Puntland and Somaliland. Finally, less than a year before the end of the transitional period, it is time for the TFG to prove that it is capable of offering basic services to the people: health care, education, justice and security. In all of these areas, needs remain considerable. The United Nations is currently assisting the efforts of the TFG. At the same time, it could adapt to make its action more effective. The United Nations is currently conducting in Somalia various and complementary activities — political, logistical, humanitarian and development-related — through 25 separate bodies. We support enhanced integration of these various actions under the direct authority of the Special Representative, so that they can be more coherent, as proposed by the Secretary-General. We will carefully study the specific proposals of the Secretary-General on this matter. The initial measures of coordination — including the establishment of a Senior Policy Group bringing together the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and the Director of the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM — are a first step, but they must go further, because our credibility is at stake. We also encourage, as soon as possible and in particular once the security situation permits it, the establishment of a United Nations office in Mogadishu, so as to mark the continuity and involvement of the United Nations in Somalia. In this regard, we strongly encourage the Special Representative of the Secretary- General to continue his efforts to ensure this United Nations presence in Somalia, as the Secretary-General has asked him to do. With respect to piracy, we all agree that we need to find solutions on land; we also need to pursue our action at sea. The debate held on 25 August (see S/PV.6374) enabled us to take a look at options proposed by the Secretary-General for prosecuting and imprisoning arrested pirates. The recommendations of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on these issues, Mr. Jack Lang, should enable us to find a solution that is both effective and equitable, for States in the region as well as States involved at sea. The coming months will be critical for Somalia as the transitional period draws to a close, so I would like to assure Mr. Mahiga that he will have the support and confidence of France as he carries out the complex job he has undertaken.

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Somalia, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, for the valuable information he has provided, and we welcome him to the Council. We also welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Mr. Moses Wetangula, and the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Ambassador Elmi Ahmed Duale, to whom we listened attentively. The recent and welcome appointment of Ambassador Mahiga as Special Representative for Somalia and head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia offers an opportunity to fine-tune the United Nations approach towards Somalia and to review the strategy to be followed, in view of the daily threats to the security of the country and the imperative need to protect the lives and basic living conditions of its people. Clearly, the prolonged instability in Somalia currently poses a threat to peace and security in the entire region. We reiterate our strong condemnation of the acts of violence that occurred in Kampala in July as well as of the constant indiscriminate attacks in Somalia mounted by insurgent extremist groups, including attacks against United Nations installations. It is unacceptable that agencies such as UNICEF or the World Food Programme should be the victims of direct attacks aimed at impeding their work. We reaffirm our gratitude to the countries contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Uganda and Burundi, and their ongoing commitment to peace. It is crucial that all concerned countries support the peace process and participate positively in the quest for stability in Somalia and the region as a whole. We welcome the decision of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union to promote the deployment of 2,000 troops to complete the Mission’s strength, as well as the support of the United States in that undertaking. We hope that the increase in AMISOM’s troop levels will create better security conditions in Mogadishu that will allow for the safe deployment of the United Nations presence in the field, in accordance with the incremental approach that the Council has supported. We commend efforts to achieve the integration of the United Nations presence in Somalia as a fundamental element of a coordinated and coherent approach to addressing the country’s problems. Concerning the political process, my delegation echoes the Secretary-General’s call for a resolution to the political and reconstruction problems facing the Transitional Federal Government and for the accelerated adoption of the constitution before the transitional period concludes in August 2011. The Government’s political unity is indispensable to guaranteeing the security of its authorities and to strengthening its credibility and legitimacy within the country and abroad. It is equally important to build on the progress made in strengthening the security sector, including through the establishment of military and police structures. We acknowledge the support provided by Uganda, Djibouti and Ethiopia in training officers, and underscore the importance of ensuring that the support of the Security Council and the international community is focused on consolidating Somalia’s institutions in accordance with its own priorities. Mexico deplores the escalation of violence by the insurgent groups, which directly affects Somali civilians, in particular the most vulnerable groups, such as women, children and refugees. We reiterate our appeal for full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights, and call on the parties immediately to cease their attacks, to avoid situations that indiscriminately affect the civilian population, and to permit access to and delivery of humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, in view of the ongoing recruitment and use of child soldiers in the conflict, we call on all parties to release the children remaining in their ranks, whom we recall are entitled to special protection pursuant to the norms and principles of international law. We support the decision of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to investigate the presence of children within the armed forces of the Transitional Federal Government, and consider it necessary for the United Nations to assist Government authorities in developing a plan of action for the demobilization and reintegration of children into their communities. We eagerly await the report that the Secretary-General is preparing on this issue for the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. In view of the indiscriminate violence in Somalia, it is necessary to remind its principal perpetrators of the international criminal liability they shall incur for such acts as those we have witnessed daily in that country. Within the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea, my delegation reiterates its belief that the arms embargo and targeted sanctions regime, when used in a coherent and incremental manner, are a valuable instrument of benefit to the peace process as a whole through the full cooperation of the international community. We welcome the reports we have received from Members of the Organization pursuant to resolutions 1844 (2008) and 1907 (2009), as well as their commitment to the work of the Committee, in view of the sensitive relationship between its work and the humanitarian assistance activities in the country. Finally, we trust that the upcoming high-level meeting on Somalia to be convened by the Secretary- General on 23 September will be an important opportunity to reaffirm the Organization’s commitment to peace and security in Somalia, taking into account the important observations that have been made here by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya. The solution lies in Somalia itself, with international support that requires a coherent approach and a strategic, long-term vision.

It is indeed a pleasure to welcome Ambassador Mahiga to the Security Council and to listen to his inaugural briefing in his capacity as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. I should like to congratulate him on his appointment and to wish him success in his new assignment. We take this opportunity to offer him our fullest support. I also welcome the Foreign Minister of Kenya, whose presentation was not only very frank, but also most compelling. I thank the Permanent Representative of Somalia for his very lucid statement. The briefing that we have heard today once again paints a mixed picture of Somalia. It is a picture of hope and a picture of apprehension. On the positive side, we note with satisfaction that, despite the tensions within the transitional federal institutions, there was considerable momentum generated by, among other things, the high-level meetings of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union summit in Kampala, the appointment of a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and the joint briefings three days ago by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM. The formation of a new Cabinet by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, which includes members of Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a, demonstrates the ability of the Government to accommodate other interests. The momentum, we believe, could be appropriately utilized to galvanize more action on the ground that will be beneficial to the people of Somalia. There is no way peace will last in Somalia if, as the Secretary-General states in his report, volatility and insecurity between the insurgents and Government forces continue to adversely affect the civilian population in Mogadishu. The terrorist attack on the Muna Hotel during the month of Ramadan, which left over 70 people dead, was both cowardly and despicable. We deplore both the attack and its perpetrators. We believe that when all parties commit to peace and take practical steps to consolidate it, the desired change will endure in the country. In that connection, Nigeria welcomes the Secretary-General’s recommendations and believes that, if implemented, they will have a significant impact in Somalia. The responsibility for making progress and achieving results in Somalia lies with all the major stakeholders, including the Somali people, AMISOM, the Security Council and all relevant partners. On AMISOM, the briefing gave a clear indication that the Mission is on the right track and that its existing strategies are helping in no small measure to deal with the challenges in Somalia. Without the presence of AMISOM, the situation in Somalia would indeed be hard to imagine. Given AMISOM’s commendable role, concerted efforts should be made to provide support that is commensurate with the operational mandates. It is a recipe for failure to deploy troops without giving them the requisite support, particularly when that support is available. It is time, therefore, to rethink our support strategy. We want to underline the need for AMISOM forces to be paid the same rates of allowance as United Nations peacekeepers. Furthermore, troop-contributing countries should be refunded early for their contingent- owned equipment. These countries are making enormous sacrifices to deploy their troops and equipment in a difficult environment. The Council should find ways to encourage countries such as Guinea and Djibouti that are planning to deploy. In this regard, we strongly appeal to donors that have placed caveats preventing the use of their contributions for any expenditure related to the military component of AMISOM to remove those caveats in order to free resources for the reimbursement of AMISOM troop contributors. We welcome in particular the Secretary- General’s recommendation that, in order to overcome the resource gap, the support package for AMISOM should be identical to the support provided to United Nations peacekeeping operations. We also support his recommendation that parity be ensured between the reimbursement rates for AMISOM and United Nations contingent personnel. Nigeria reiterates its support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and welcomes the progress it has made, despite the difficulties and internal disputes it faces. The TFG needs broad and all- encompassing support to implement key transitional tasks, fight piracy and insurgency, engage in political dialogue and national reconciliation, and, indeed, extend its authority within the country, beginning with Mogadishu. It also requires support in order to engage in genuine dialogue and sustained consultation. Without adequate support, the TFG will be unable to fulfil the transitional agenda, while extremists will be emboldened to continue their attacks on both the TFG and AMISOM. The heinous attacks of 11 July in Kampala by agents of Al-Shabaab are a grim reminder of how easily the situation in Somalia could spill over into the entire region, with dire consequences. This situation gives rise to the need for concerted and purposeful support for the TFG. A core aspect of this would be to stabilize the security environment by reinforcing the training, equipping and sustenance of the Somali police force and the national security forces. This will not be possible if efforts are not made to mobilize resources to assist Somalia. As the Secretary-General notes in his report (S/2010/447), the United Nations does not have the resources to adequately pay the police and civil servants or to reimburse countries contributing troops to AMISOM. It is needless to add that the challenges in Somalia must be able to benefit from the expertise and efficiency of an integrated United Nations system. We therefore underscore the need for the integration of the United Nations system in Somalia. Nigeria welcomes the strong and continuing partnership between the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the United Nations in Somalia. Indeed, we owe a debt of gratitude to the gallant men and women of the military forces of Uganda and Burundi for their efforts and commitment to the cause of peace in Somalia. We also take this opportunity to salute the dedication of international aid and humanitarian workers in that country.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mahiga, for his comprehensive briefing, and wish him every success in his work for peace and stability in Somalia. I also welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and thank him for his valuable contribution, and stress the importance of the statement made the Permanent Representative of Somalia. We support the Djibouti peace process in Somalia, and stress the need to identify a comprehensive approach to the situation in that country for a peace that addresses not only security but also economic development and the promotion of the country’s institutions. Lebanon condemns the acts of piracy and armed robbery off the shores of Somalia, which threaten navigation and international trade and obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Lebanon maintains that addressing the root causes of piracy will lead us into the interior of Somalia, which will require building the capacities of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and its armed forces, and assisting it in providing employment opportunities for Somalis. We have considered the Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/447) and would like to stress the following points. In regard to the political process, we commend the work done by Somali institutions in certain areas, although their capabilities have been limited. Here, we note in particular the preparation of a draft constitution by December 2010. We call on the TFG to resolve its differences, move forward on fulfilling its commitments and implementing its main tasks, and improve the provision of basic services for the people. With regard to security, we are greatly concerned about the acts of violence and repeated attacks by insurgents against the Government, leading to many innocent deaths. Such attacks demonstrate the need to support the Somali armed forces expeditiously, to expand the authority of the State and to reintegrate the deserting members of armed groups. We call on donor parties to promote support for the Somali security forces and to help them pay their salaries, a matter concerning which the Secretary-General agrees in his report, so as to address the dangers of extremism, and especially the threat posed by the Al-Shabaab movement not only to Somalis but to Muslims and others elsewhere. In regard to the humanitarian situation, we express our great concern that children have been recruited by all parties and about reports of the coercive expulsion of internally displaced persons in Somalia and the increased sexual violence against them, particularly in Somaliland. We also condemn the repeated threats against journalists and humanitarian workers. In this respect, we regret the fact that the World Food Programme has been unable to deliver humanitarian assistance to areas under the control of Al-Shabaab, leading to a sense of marginalization among the people who live in those areas and creating an unintended image of politicization of humanitarian aid there. With regard to the international presence in Somalia, we stress the need for further coordination between United Nations bodies working there. We also stress the importance of expediting the implementation of the phased efforts to strengthen the United Nations presence, and of the Security Council’s sending a message of support for the Djibouti peace process in Somalia. In the absence of international peacekeeping forces, we call on donor entities to increase their contributions to covering the costs of the African Union Mission. We commend the contributions of the African Union, particularly Uganda and Burundi, to efforts for peace in Somalia. We also commend the United States of America for having stated its readiness to facilitate the deployment of the 2,000 additional troops pledged by the African Union. We call for further cooperation with regional organizations in order to benefit from their comparative advantages, in particular their special in- depth understanding of conflicts in the area and their local experience. The African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development have called for the preparation of a new support plan for AMISOM that would enable it to augment its forces for deployment throughout the territory of Somalia. Should we not respond to that call from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development? Should we not support them and back the Secretary-General in his conviction that assistance to AMISOM should be in line with assistance provided to other peacekeeping operations? Should not the rate of reimbursement for AMISOM be similar to that for peacekeeping operations elsewhere? We believe that the cost of investing in the attainment of peace and stability in Somalia through the Djibouti peace process and the transitional federal institutions far outweighs the danger of having a Somalia in total chaos and lacking a functioning government — not to mention the human costs, which can never be recouped.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Mahiga, for his comprehensive statement to the Council this morning, and we congratulate him on his appointment. I also thank him for the gusto and energy he has deployed as he begins his work. He enjoys the unequivocal support of Uganda. I wish also to welcome the Foreign Minister of Kenya, Mr. Wetangula, and to thank him for his down- to-earth statement on the situation in Somalia. I also thank the Permanent Representative of Somalia for his helpful statement. I fully endorse the views of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and the Permanent Representative of Nigeria, which call for parity in the treatment of peacekeepers in Somalia vis-à-vis peacekeepers elsewhere in the world. In fact, these peacekeepers, who face the harshest conditions, end up getting the least care and being poorly treated by the international community. Hence, we need to do more than we are doing. Uganda reaffirms its support for the Djibouti peace process, as it represents the best opportunity for lasting peace in Somalia. We commend the efforts made by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in advancing the political process in that country. We are encouraged by its continued commitment and efforts in reaching out to opposition groups in the search for lasting peace. We therefore call upon all parties in Somalia to engage in the political process. The security situation in Somalia remains fragile. During the holy month of Ramadan, instead of observing the edicts of Islam — which call, inter alia, for peace and generosity during the time of fasting — Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups launched an offensive with the aim of overthrowing the TFG. Moreover, they carried out these attacks, as they always do, from civilian-populated areas and facilities such as markets and hospitals. Al-Shabaab holds the people of Somalia hostage to its extremist views, obstructs the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the needy and grossly violates human rights. The recent attacks on TFG forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the use of civilian facilities to carry out those attacks have left scores of people dead and many more injured. Hence, Al-Shabaab and its allies and sponsors bear sole responsibility for the continuing suffering and death endured by the Somalia people and by our peacekeepers. The launch of the recent offensive by armed opposition groups is a clear indication that they are still receiving support in various forms from their sponsors. In addition, we are concerned about the large numbers of foreign fighters coming into the country. Al-Shabaab’s activities and methods increasingly mirror those of Al-Qaida in their nature and objectives. There is therefore an urgent need to strengthen the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions dealing with spoilers and terrorist groups. The continuing conflict and the deterioration of security have led to the worsening of the humanitarian situation, have increased the number of displaced persons and have negatively affected the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the country. We commend the humanitarian agencies and workers continuing to operate in Somalia in these very difficult conditions, and we call upon the international community to redouble its efforts and increase its support to those agencies. The primary responsibility for maintaining peace, security and stability in Somalia ultimately lies with the TFG and the people of Somalia. However, without effective, working State institutions, this will remain a major challenge. We call upon the international community to support the rebuilding of State institutions in Somalia, especially in the security and justice sectors. Supporting the Government in improving service delivery will enhance its authority and legitimacy. Without unity of purpose within the TFG, the support provided by the international community for the people of Somalia will be in vain. We therefore call upon the TFG and the other transitional institutions to work in harmony in addressing the challenges that are facing the country. We commend the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Mahiga, to promote cohesion and understanding within the TFG. The Special Representative’s work should also help galvanize cohesion among United Nations agencies and the international community so that they can focus on streamlined action. At the recent African Union summit, held in Kampala, heads of State or Government reaffirmed their commitment to support the people of Somalia in their quest for peace and stability. Thus, we call upon the international community to support AMISOM in effectively fulfilling its mandate. There is now a window of opportunity in Somalia for laying the foundation for peace and stability that we cannot afford to waste. Finally, we welcome the convening by the Secretary-General of the mini-summit on Somalia on 23 September, which is really next week. We expect that this summit will help to further mobilize the international community to support the efforts and actions aimed at stabilizing Somalia.

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for presenting the Secretary- General’s report on the situation in Somalia (S/2010/447). We are pleased to welcome Augustine Mahiga in his new post and wish him success and pledge him our support. We listened carefully and with interest to the statements of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and the representative of Somalia. On the whole, we share the assessments presented in the report of the Secretary-General. We are troubled by recent outbreaks of violence in Mogadishu, which have aggravated an already unstable situation in the country. The extremists have not abandoned attempts to attack the positions of the forces of the Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which genuinely hinder the actions of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to establish effective leadership in the country. As a result, the civilian population and the personnel of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations remain under threat, which gives rise to grave concern and deepens the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. In these conditions, it is very important to end external support for the extremist forces in Somalia, in particular through strict compliance with Security Council resolutions. We join in the Secretary-General’s appeal to the international community’s to step up its efforts to assist the TFG, especially in the area of security. There can be no doubt that in these conditions it is of special importance to ensure the unity and solidarity of transitional federal structures capable of winning the trust of Somalis. The Government needs to pursue its work to broaden its social base. The only credible stabilizing factor in the country today is AMISOM. It is important to ensure its full staffing and its required logistical support as soon as possible. We note the relevant proposals of the Secretariat, which require some development. We believe that the phased approach to broadening the United Nations presence in the country is justified and should continue to be implemented depending on the momentum of the military and political situation. We support the desire to maintain closer contacts between United Nations agencies and the TFG and other major Somali parties. It is important to strengthen the coordination action of United Nations agencies, including in putting together joint programmes and operations. The problem of piracy remains pressing, and any long-term solution will depend on the prospects for advancing the political process and rebuilding Somalia. It is obvious that one of the important causes of the inadequate effectiveness of international anti-piracy efforts resides in the current imperfect mechanism for holding the pirates accountable. We must create the necessary judicial bodies, especially at the regional level. However, the search for additional opportunities to combat piracy should be conducted along other lines. In particular, we believe that effective prosecution of the leaders of the piracy industry would be assisted by placing them on Council sanctions lists. Russia will continue to support the efforts of the President of Somalia and the TFG to achieve sustainable peace and national reconciliation in the country on the basis of the Djibouti Agreement in the interest of strengthening security and stability in the region.

At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Augustine Mahiga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, for his introduction of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/447) and comprehensive briefing this morning. Also, we would like to welcome His Excellency Mr. Moses Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. Additionally, we would like to thank the Ambassador of Somalia for his statement. Bosnia and Herzegovina condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent suicide attacks in Somalia and expresses its condolences to the families of the victims. We also once again express condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place in Kampala on 11 July. Those tragic incidents once again remind us of the fragility of the security situation in Somalia, which remains a major concern for us, and of its impact on the wider region. Bosnia and Herzegovina reiterates its full support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Djibouti peace process as the only legitimate and viable framework to achieve lasting peace in Somalia. As the end of the transitional period approaches, it is important that all relevant actors in the country show their full commitment to the implementation of the key transitional tasks through unity. This challenge requires the serious dedication of Somali institutions to ensure that the transitional period is not prolonged in order to justify the confidence and efforts of the Somali people and the international community. We call upon the TFG to intensify its efforts, especially in the areas of political reconciliation and outreach, the constitution-making process, security, stability and the delivery of services, and urge all groups outside the Djibouti peace process to join it as soon as possible. The international community has shown its devotion to assisting the Somali people in achieving lasting peace and stability in the country. We express our hope that these efforts will continue, and we reiterate our call on the international community and partners of Somalia to provide urgent military and financial support, as well as other necessary resources to the TFG. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains concerned regarding the humanitarian situation in the country. Despite the fact that the rainy season has improved the food security situation, a large number of people still depend on food assistance. Unfortunately, the delivery of this needed assistance is still obstructed in some parts of the country. We are deeply concerned over the recruitment and use of children in the conflict, as well as over the reports of cases of killed or injured children. We therefore urge all parties to the conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian and human rights law in order to protect the civilian population. Once more, Bosnia and Herzegovina would like to commend the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and particularly the troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for their tireless efforts in stabilizing the situation in Somalia, despite the extremely difficult environment in which AMISOM troops are operating. We therefore call upon the international community to continue its support to AMISOM with the aim of fully implementing its mandate. We welcome the efforts of the Joint Security Committee to coordinate the security sector development initiatives. Strengthening the processes of the Somali police force and national security forces is vital to peace and stability in Somalia. Therefore, we would like to emphasize that the cooperation and assistance of the international community to the TFG are crucial, and that every resource should be used to generate the political and security conditions necessary for the successful completion of the transition by 2011. Bosnia and Herzegovina recognizes the importance of the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM and its efforts to provide a logistical support package to AMISOM, as well as the hard work of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, the United Nations country team and all other humanitarian organizations. Finally, on the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia, we share the view that the piracy poses a threat to peace and security, not just in the region but globally. We reiterate our position that a long-term solution will come only through fighting the root causes of piracy by restoring stability and the rule of law in Somalia.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s public debate to discuss the matter of Somalia. I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Mahiga, for his briefing. I would like to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and the Permanent Representative of Somalia for their presence and for their statements. In recent times, the international community has continued to work towards a solution in Somalia. The Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has resolutely fought against attacks launched by armed opposition forces. Efforts to equip and train the Somali security forces are proceeding apace. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has been strengthened. In addition, international cooperation to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia has continued to progress. However, the security situation in Somalia has yet to show any visible sign of improvement. The humanitarian crisis has intensified and piracy has continued unabated. The question of Somalia remains a serious challenge to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and to the world at large. Resolving internal political differences and establishing an effective central Government are the important pre-conditions for the international community’s ability to play an effective role. As noted in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/447), the TFG is undergoing a very tense period. This situation must be quickly corrected. China supports the Djibouti peace agreement. We hope that the TFG will duly resolve its internal problems and work to strengthen its role as a pole of attraction to the various political forces in Somalia. We sincerely hope that the various political factions in Somalia will place the interests of their country and their people above all other considerations and join the political reconciliation and negotiation processes. We call on all relevant parties, including the countries of the region, to respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to support the TFG in order to facilitate early, substantive progress in the political reconciliation in Somalia. We condemn the attacks launched against the TFG, the Somali people and AMISOM. We welcome the contributions of the Somali security forces and AMISOM to improving the security situation in Somalia. At present, the Somali security forces and AMISOM are facing serious funding gaps. China therefore calls on the international community to actively provide that assistance. China supports the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping operations in Somalia when the conditions are ripe. The recent Istanbul Conference on Somalia demonstrated the greater understanding of the international community of the severity of the Somali issue. The African Union’s contributions and tireless efforts to find a solution to the problem are indeed commendable. We call on the United Nations to further mobilize resources through various channels and to provide further practical assistance to AMISOM. It is our hope that countries will honour their commitments to assisting Somalia in a timely manner. Two decades of war and strife in Somalia have seriously undermined the cause of peace in Africa. As an urgent matter, the international community must take early, effective action to gradually resolve the question of Somalia. In that respect, the Security Council should demonstrate a stronger sense of responsibility and purpose. The African Union has designated 2010 the Year of Peace and Security in Africa. African countries are working tirelessly to resolve all the hot spot issues in Africa, and they maintain the fervent hope that the international community, especially the United Nations, will play a major role in finding a solution for Somalia. Here, I reiterate that in the interests of peace in Africa, China is ready to make its own contribution to finding a solution in Somalia. China is also ready to cooperate actively with the United Nations and all of the parties concerned on this matter.

I, too, thank Ambassador Mahiga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, for his introduction of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/447) on the latest developments in the political, security, humanitarian and human rights fields in Somalia. Permit me to also welcome the honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, His Excellency Mr. Moses Wetangula, to the Council and to thank him for his highly enriching and edifying statement. The numerous meetings held by the Security Council on the matter of Somalia and other initiatives taken in this area, in particular the Istanbul Conference, demonstrate the international community’s ongoing awareness of the Somali problem. Similarly, my delegation supports the convening this month of a mini-summit directed at further involving the United Nations in the Somalia stabilization process. My delegation believes that the new options proposed by the Secretary-General provide a good basis for discussions on a coordinated and lasting solution to this crisis. This debate is being held at a time when Somalia has become the theatre of violence that has, regrettably, led to great loss of human life, including, yet again, among the soldiers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This upsurge in violence recalls the precarious security situation in a country that has faced numerous challenges for many years. As my country has emphasized at previous meetings on this same subject, the resolution of the crisis in Somalia requires a three-pronged approach: security, institutional and humanitarian. Improving the security situation remains linked to strengthening the capacities of both the AMISOM and the Somali national security forces. While it is true that troop levels have considerably grown, reaching the 8,000 soldiers established in the mandate, it is urgent that the troops enjoy the financial, logistical and additional technical means that will allow them to counter the frequent military attacks orchestrated by the rebel movements. Such assistance will also strengthen the authority of the Transitional Federal Government, above all at a time when the Islamist militias are on the offensive, as demonstrated by the dual attack in Kampala on 11 July and the progressive advance of Al-Shabaab towards Mogadishu. In this context, we welcome the logistical support provided to date by the United Nations, which has significantly contributed to strengthening the operational capacities of AMISOM. We also welcome the support provided by the European Union to train 2,000 soldiers of the Somalia armed forces. Furthermore, we support the recommendation of the Secretary-General that the remuneration of AMISOM troops be aligned with those of United Nations peacekeepers. Once enacted, this measure will contribute to strengthening motivation among AMISOM troops in the theatre of operations. This is also an opportunity to pay particular tribute to Uganda and Burundi, whose commitment to restoring peace and stability in Somalia, at the cost of enormous human and material sacrifice, deserves recognition. The same applies to other countries, including the Republic of Guinea, which has announced a troop contribution to AMISOM. Illicit arms circulation also fuels insecurity in Somalia. In that context, my delegation underscores the need to ensure the effective implementation of the sanctions imposed by the Council pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009). Institutional stability in Somalia will require strengthening the authority of the Transitional Federal Government. To that end, we support the Secretary- General’s call on the international community to provide the military and financial aid necessary to strengthening the transitional federal institutions. My Government urges the Transitional Federal Government to pursue national reconciliation pursuant the Djibouti Agreement, which is the political basis for a resolution of the Somali crisis. The Government’s inclusion of three members of the Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a movement following the last reorganization of the Government and the progress made in drafting a new constitution are important steps towards concluding the transitional phase. With a view to capitalizing on this progress, my delegation invites the members of the Government to rise above their differences for the sake of the higher interests of their country. The humanitarian situation also remains of great concern. We have the moral duty to sustain and strengthen the efforts and cooperation of humanitarian workers on the ground, and to ensure that food aid is properly transported to its final destination. The international community’s attention to the overall situation in that country — that is, security problems on land and piracy off the coasts of Somalia — will contribute to establishing a lasting peace, not only throughout the country, but in the whole Horn of Africa. My country, for its part, will continue to support the work of AMISOM, the involvement of the IGAD countries and the role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia.

At the outset, I would like to welcome Ambassador Augustine Mahiga as the new Special Representative of the Secretary- General. We thank him for his presentation and for the commitment he has already shown under truly challenging circumstances. I would also like to say that we welcomed the presentation by Foreign Minister Wetangula and would like to underline the key role that Kenya is playing in bringing stability to Somalia by accepting refugees as a basis for the activities of the international community and, more specifically, on the issue of piracy. We are also grateful to the Permanent Representative of Somalia for his statement. I would like to join others in condemning the recent attacks of 9 September and the violence of recent weeks. Austria expresses its condolences to the victims and their families. Let me underline that Austria fully aligns itself with the statement of the European Union that will be delivered later this morning. Let me now highlight a few additional points. Austria would once again like to confirm its support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and for the continuation of the Djibouti peace process. We hope that the TFG, with the support of the international community, will be able to assume its responsibilities — namely, to build security and rule of law institutions and to embark on a reconciliation process — in unity. As others have already said, the transitional period comes to an end in August 2011, and we need a clear strategy for the remainder of this time. We are deeply concerned about the devastating effect the conflict has on the civilian population and about the lack of respect for humanitarian principles. We call on all parties to permit the delivery of assistance and aid to those in need. I would also like to reiterate our appreciation for the dedication and engagement of the many humanitarian workers who accept very high risks in order to alleviate the plight of the civilian population in Somalia. We call upon all parties to ensure the protection of civilians, in particular that of children, in compliance with human rights law and international humanitarian law. Austria would like to reiterate its condemnation of the recruitment of children by all parties to the conflict and request that they be released immediately. In this regard, we encourage all parties to cooperate with the Working Group of the Security Council on Children and Armed Conflict, which is to begin its consultations on the situation in Somalia in October. Concerning the surge in piracy, it is, as others have already said, not only important to consider piracy as a threat to key international shipping lanes at sea, but also necessary to consider its root causes and to see it as a factor further aggravating the security and humanitarian situation in Somalia. Austria therefore stresses the importance of determined activities to curb piracy in the region, as is also done through the European Union naval operation, Operation Atalanta. Let me also underline our commitment, support and admiration for the important contribution of AMISOM, its troop-contributing countries, Uganda and Burundi, the United Nations support package for AMISOM and the substantial support by the European Union to AMISOM in bringing security and stability to the country. We welcome the progress in the integration of United Nations operations, which will also ensure a coherent United Nations approach in Somalia. It is important to enhance the role of the United Nations in Somalia, specifically in coordinating and leading the efforts of the international community. We should also aim at creating more synergies between the TFG and the international community in Somalia and make more efficient use of already established mechanisms for coordination such as the High-level Committee and the Joint Security Committee. In conclusion, we are looking forward to the summit on Somalia on 23 September that is to be convened by the Secretary-General. It will provide an opportunity to highlight the Security Council’s firm support and commitment to the remaining tasks during the transitional period and to the stabilization of the situation in Somalia.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Turkey. We too wish to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mahiga, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/447). We welcome Mr. Moses Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, and thank him for his insightful statement. We also welcome the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Mr. Duale. As others have emphasized, the challenges we face in Somalia are great and daunting. The political and security situation is critical. Terrorism, instability and the precarious humanitarian situation continue to cause grave concern. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has a great many things to achieve. For that, there is a need for a strong and determined Government and functional institutions. Therefore, the existing political disputes should be solved through dialogue so that the transitional agenda can be completed in a timely fashion. We commend the crucial role played by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) towards achieving stability in Somalia. We thank all troop- and police-contributing countries, especially Uganda and Burundi. We also welcome the efforts of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, including its decision to deploy additional troops under AMISOM. AMISOM should be fully supported, so that it can effectively implement its mandate. Turkey shares the Secretary-General’s view that the support package for AMISOM should be identical to the support provided to United Nations peacekeeping operations. On the other hand, one should not expect AMISOM to provide security on its own. It is also of crucial importance that the Somali security institutions be strengthened. There is no military solution to the Somali question, and the only road to a peaceful future is through dialogue. The TFG, which Turkey fully supports, should continue to pursue assertively its outreach policy vis-à-vis the opposition groups. Likewise, the TFG has to appeal to the hearts and minds of the Somali public so as to minimize the adverse effects of the propaganda machine of radical elements, which have their own agenda. We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks in Kampala and Mogadishu. We should not let radical elements drive the Djibouti peace process. Stability in Somalia can be consolidated only if the gains in the political and security fields are supported by reconstruction activities. The Istanbul Conference on Somalia laid out a broad perspective in that regard. The critical role played by Somalia’s neighbours in promoting peace, security and development in Somalia and the region is undeniable. By reaffirming the principles of good-neighbourly relations and urging Somalia’s partners to continue to support efforts towards that end, the Istanbul Conference also strongly emphasized that. For the peace process to move forward in Somalia, the active involvement and leadership of the United Nations are crucial. In that regard, we welcome the determination and tireless efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mahiga, to reinvigorate the process. We support him, and we are ready to work and cooperate with him. The increased presence of the United Nations in Somalia will no doubt help achieve the targets that have been set. We are encouraged by the strong commitment of the Secretary-General to that matter. The mini-summit that the Secretary-General will convene next week is a timely initiative in that respect. Finally, with regard to the fight against piracy, we follow with satisfaction the work to date by the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The issue is also high on the agenda of the Security Council, which very recently discussed the legal aspects of the issue (see S/PV.6374). We look forward to the report of the Secretary-General on piracy, which will be submitted in October. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations.

First, allow me, on behalf of the African Union, to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this meeting, which gives our organization the opportunity to brief the Council once again on what the African Union is observing on the ground. It will also allow us to explain the challenges that we face in supporting the implementation of the peace process. In addition, this meeting clearly demonstrates the Security Council’s commitment to remain fully seized of the situation in Somalia. We welcome the statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and hail the pivotal role that his country is playing in the region, as well as the role played by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), acting in the region on behalf of the African Union. We also welcome the briefing provided by Ambassador Mahiga, whom the African Group received yesterday. His statement to the Group and the discussions with his team fully convinced the Group that his efforts need the support not only of the Group he visited yesterday, but of the entire international community, so that results can be seen on the ground. We know his commitment to the continent, and we have known him as a colleague in New York. We think that one could not find a better person — one who knows not only the issues, but also the Organization — for this position on Somalia. But Mr. Mahiga is only one part of our driving force, and without our driving force, that part could not function. Since May, when Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union Commission, described the situation in Somalia to the Security Council (see S/PV.6313), we have seen a number of positive and less positive developments on the ground that have had an impact on the peace process. I will speak briefly about those developments before turning my attention to the way in which the African Union has approached the problems and challenges associated with them. On the political front, as other delegations have said, the process of adopting a new constitution drafted by the Independent Federal Constitution Commission continues despite the tensions caused by differences among leaders of the transitional federal institutions. The Special Representative of the African Union for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and the IGAD Facilitator for Somalia Peace and Reconciliation are talking with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) with a view to reaching greater harmony and cohesion among the transitional federal institutions to help adopt more positive measures likely to facilitate achieving the tasks foreseen for the transitional period, which will end on 20 August 2011. Security remains volatile. The Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam groups continue to carry out indiscriminate attacks against the positions of the TFG and the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) in Mogadishu and the surrounding areas, causing many civilian casualties. However, AMISOM remains firmly entrenched in all strategic points, including Villa Somalia, the airport, the port and Kilometre 4. Recently, it has gained ground and slightly widened its zone of influence by deploying its forces at new strategic points in the Bondere and Abdiaziz districts of Mogadishu. As other delegations have underscored, the humanitarian situation too continues to deteriorate in Mogadishu and in other parts of Somalia, while fighting among the various armed groups continues. Thousands of civilians are directly affected by the violence, which is increasingly causing casualties and displaced persons, who urgently need humanitarian assistance. The humanitarian agencies have extremely limited access owing to the widespread insecurity, intimidation, harassment and attacks perpetrated by armed groups, in particular Al-Shabaab. Against that very complex background, I would like to report that the situation in Somalia has received the highest political attention both in the region and on the continent. As the delegations who spoke before me have emphasized, the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Kampala, at its closure reaffirmed its full support for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and resolutely condemned the attacks and other acts of violence perpetrated by Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups against the TFG, the Somali population and AMISOM, as well as the attacks in Kampala, Uganda, on 11 July. Moreover, the Conference endorsed the decisions contained in the Communiqué of the fifteenth Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, held in Addis Ababa on 5 July 2010, aimed at enabling AMISOM to achieve the authorized level of its personnel of 8,100 men. And this morning, we heard that reviewing this figure upwards is being considered. In implementing the mandate conferred on it by the Conference of Heads of State, the Commission has begun to plan new deployment phases for AMISOM. That process, including drawing up new strategic directives and a concept of operations for AMISOM, has necessitated consultations with partners, including the United Nations, and will soon be completed. The results of that process will be submitted to the Council once they have been endorsed by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. As we finalize the planning of new deployment phases for AMISOM, allow me to draw attention to a number of challenges that we are already facing today. Security Council resolution 1863 (2009) of 16 January 2009 authorized a “logistical support package to AMISOM, including equipment and services” (para. 10). The operational aspects of that logistical support package provided to AMISOM, as noted in a letter from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2008/804), will be funded through regular contributions from States Members of the United Nations. Other United Nations support measures for AMISOM, including reimbursement for the contingents’ logistical arrangements, come from the special United Nations Trust Fund for AMISOM. Member States are making generous contributions to the Fund and we thank them for that. At the same time, we need to find a solution to a number of conditions imposed by donors banning the use of funds in certain critical areas. With some rare exceptions, those restrictions, as some delegations have noted, have largely curbed expenditures in the military components of AMISOM. AMISOM continues to be subject to significant financial restrictions that prevent it from being operationally effective, which could discourage new troop contributors. It is therefore vital that AMISOM financing be not only sufficient but also predictable and sustainable, and that cannot be guaranteed unless the regular budget is used to cover all key operational elements of AMISOM, including military equipment and implements of war deployed by troop-contributing countries in the highly precarious security environment of Somalia. Obviously, the situation in Somalia poses a threat to international peace and security. Unrestrained piracy and the bomb attacks of 11 July, mentioned by many delegations, show the extent to which insecurity in Somalia has a profound impact beyond its borders. A firm response from the international community is necessary. The commitments made by the African Union to re-establish peace and security in Somalia need international support. I therefore urge the Council to consider authorizing all possible cooperation and collaboration between AMISOM and United Nations operations under way in the region in order to deliver personnel and air and maritime logistical support for AMISOM. Let me now speak briefly about the problem of civilian casualties. The humanitarian community is expressing growing concern over the high number of casualties resulting from the fighting in Mogadishu between insurgents and Government forces. Some organizations and media have repeatedly accused AMISOM of blindly looting civilian zones in Mogadishu in reaction to attacks from Al-Shabaab insurgents in those neighbourhoods. These accusations are launched by the Al-Shabaab propaganda machine. In that regard, AMISOM is working closely with its partners, including the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM, to develop an active communication strategy targeted to counter this manoeuvre. Moreover, AMISOM and the United Nations country team agree in principle on the establishment of a working group to share information on the situation of civilian casualties and to adopt practical measures to deal with the different concerns. In conclusion, let me reiterate the African Union’s determination to assume its fair share of the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, working closely with the Council, Member States and all our international partners in seeking and implementing our common goal — a Somalia that is stable and at peace. However, we must emphasize that AMISOM needs sufficient, predictable and lasting resources, as I have indicated. Without sufficient and predictable resources, AMISOM will not be able to guarantee the security conditions necessary to allow the Transitional Federal Government to complete its transitional tasks, including the development of Somali security forces and the establishment of conditions conducive to stability and development in Somalia. Finally, I commend the statement made by the representative of Somalia. I would especially like to welcome the partnership to be developed among the African Union, the United Nations and IGAD. In the meantime, we will have to give substance to these partnerships. We clearly heard Mr. Mahiga when he talked about the attacks that took place during his trip to Somalia in the company of the representatives of IGAD and the African Union. Clearly, we are united through thick and thin. But we also have to give substance to these partnerships, and that substance will come only from firm action from the Council, from all States Members of the United Nations and from all partners working for Somalia — and above all with the help of Somalia itself.

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Pedro Serrano, head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. Mr. Serrano: The candidate countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia; as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration. Let me start by thanking the Foreign Minister of Kenya and the Ambassador of Somalia for their important statements. I also wish to warmly welcome Ambassador Mahiga and to express the full support of the European Union (EU) for his crucial mission. The European Union strongly condemns the Al-Shabaab deadly attacks on Mogadishu’s airport on 9 September, during which several people, including African Union peacekeepers, lost their lives. Despite all the efforts of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the international community, the security situation in Somalia remains fragile. The transitional federal institutions are continuously facing serious challenges to their efforts to improve security, to strengthen the political process and to intensify institution-building, as well as to deliver minimum basic services to the Somali people. Somalia is now entering a critical phase, with the transitional period culminating in less than a year in August 2011, while the Djibouti Agreement has yet to be fully implemented. It is imperative that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) urgently take the necessary steps in order to address the outstanding priority transitional tasks and intensify its outreach efforts. The consultative process that should take place to win broad-based popular support for a new constitution will provide an opportunity to reach out on substantive issues of concern for the future prospects of Somalia. The most recent Al-Shabaab terrorist attacks on Mogadishu Airport, aiming at a high-level meeting of United Nations, African Union and Somali officials taking place there, and previous attacks in Kampala in July and in Mogadishu in August pose a serious threat not only to the security situation in Somalia, but also to the wider region and all international actors. The peace process in Somalia must continue despite all the attempts to derail it by an increasingly well-organized and violent minority. Together with international partners, the European Union has long been engaged in supporting a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Somali crisis. The European Union assists in stabilizing Somalia by providing support to such priority areas as the security sector — including support to the Somali police force — as well as the training of military personnel, humanitarian and development assistance to the population and capacity-building support. In addition the European Union is largely involved in the ongoing naval operations against piracy through deployment of its Operation Atalanta forces. The European Union and its member States continue to constitute the largest donor to Somalia. It is, however, important to underline that the role of the European Union is only to assist. The main responsibility for Somalia’s future lies with the Somalis themselves, and the role and initiatives of the TFG will be decisive for Somalia’s future. Without a credible and inclusive Somali-owned political process, gains will be short-lived. The European Union, in line with the United Nations and the main international partners, considers AMISOM to be a crucial element in supporting and protecting the Transitional Federal Institutions and to help them carry out their responsibilities. AMISOM contributes to the provision of the much-needed security to allow the TFG to undertake dialogue, reconciliation and political outreach. Since 2007, the European Union contribution to AMISOM has amounted to €95 million, to which we have recently added a further €47 million. The European Union reiterates its call on the broader international community to follow its lead and do more to support both the Somali security apparatus and AMISOM. We recognize that security support is essential, but we understand well that there can be no purely military solution in Somalia. Whilst we support the imperative to get AMISOM to its mandated strength, such a capacity needs to be matched by corresponding and parallel political efforts by both the international community and, above all, by the TFG itself. The European Union fully supports the current peace process led by the United Nations in Somalia. However, the international coordination urgently needs further improvement. Specifically, there is a need for stronger United Nations leadership of the international efforts, as well as closer cooperation with the African Union. The European Union calls for more effective use of the current mechanisms of coordination between the international community and the TFG, such as the High-Level Committee and the Joint Security Committee. As for the fight against piracy, we have recently dedicated a specific session to that instance. Therefore, let me simply take this opportunity to reiterate the need for the international community to devote more attention to reversing the socio-economic drivers that feed the scourge of piracy. The European Union commends the work done so far by the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and calls for an increased coordination by the United Nations on the issue of the fight against piracy on land. The European Union will continue to support the region’s own leadership and efforts in finding solutions to counter piracy by helping the regional countries to develop their judicial capabilities, as envisaged in the Djibouti Code of Conduct. We invite the States of the region to make use of this offer. In conclusion, the European Union reiterates its commitment to improving the lives, dignity and security of the Somali people, to foster reconciliation, to support human rights and good governance, to increase access to basic services, to initiate reconstruction activities, and foremost to help set Somalia firmly on the path to peace and sustainable development. In this respect, we call on the Transitional Federal Government to strengthen its efforts to address these considerable political, economic and security challenges. As the transitional period will end in less than a year, we call on the United Nations and the TFG to immediately start working on a road map for the most urgently needed measures to be taken before August 2011 in order to avoid a prolongation of the transitional period. Securing peace in Somalia may not be easy and will certainly demand considerable resources, but it is an effort worth of making, and one that we must make — not only for Somalia, but for peace and stability in the region, and indeed, in a very real sense, for world security.

I give the floor to the representative of Norway.

I join others in thanking Special Representative Mahiga for his thorough and comprehensive briefing. Norway joins the Secretary-General and other Member States in strongly condemning the recent terrorist attacks carried out by extremist groups against the peacekeepers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and innocent civilians in Mogadishu and Kampala. In spite of the commendable efforts made by AMISOM under extremely difficult circumstances, we have to face the fact that the situation in Mogadishu is still fragile. And the same may also be said about the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The threat posed by militant and extremist groups to other countries in the region underlines that what is happening in Somalia is also a serious threat to peace and security in the wider international community. It is therefore important for the Security Council to take appropriate action to boost the strength and the operational capability of AMISOM. The main victims of the ongoing war of attrition in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia are, of course, the Somali people, who have been compelled to live under the direst conditions for such a long time. As long as the present situation continues, there is little hope for any improvement, and those who are able to do so are fleeing Mogadishu with their families. Norway, together with other donors, is seeking to provide humanitarian assistance, but access is often difficult. As regards piracy, Norway wishes to thank all the countries that are currently contributing to the naval capacities in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. At the same time, we note with concern that the prosecution of captured pirates remains insufficient and sporadic, despite our collective efforts. Even if AMISOM should be significantly strengthened, a lasting solution to the conflict in Somalia can be achieved only by political means. Norway remains a strong supporter of the Djibouti process and the efforts to reach out and integrate those groups that are not yet party to the peace process. We believe this should be vigorously pursued. At the same time, it is vital that the TFG get its act together and show a unity of purpose. The internal dispute over political positions is seriously undermining not only security, but also any efforts to achieve peace. Norway will continue to support the transitional federal institutions of Somalia, in particular the ongoing constitutional process. With only one more year left in the transitional period, time is now highly limited if we are to find a lasting solution in Somalia.

I give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

At the outset, I should like to congratulate and thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important debate on the situation in Somalia. I would also like to congratulate Ambassador Augustine Mahiga on his appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. I thank him for his opening remarks, which provided further insights into the significant challenges in Somalia, and assure him of the full support of Algeria in his new and challenging mission. I should also like to commend the Secretary-General for producing a comprehensive and thoughtful report (S/2010/447) pursuant to resolution 1910 (2010), which provides an update on main developments in Somalia. Algeria has always been firmly attached to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and national unity. As a concrete contribution, Algeria provided the logistical airlift support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops. At the International Conference on Somalia, held in Istanbul in May 2010, a high-level Algerian delegation participated to renew my country’s commitment towards peace and reconstruction in Somalia. Algeria also supported the decision of the African Union summit, held in Kampala from 25 to 27 July, to deploy additional troops for strengthening AMISOM. As Somalia’s transitional period approaches its end, my delegation shares the concern of the Secretary- General, as highlighted also by his Special Representative, that the transitional agenda remains largely unfulfilled. It is time for the Transitional Federal Institutions to show determination to complete the transitional tasks. We note the Secretary-General’s assessment in his report that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) needs to develop credible Government structures to deliver services to its people. As suggested by the Secretary-General, we encourage the TFG to make more effort to implement the Djibouti Agreement, which should remain open to all Somalis seeking peace, reconciliation and development. My delegation shares the Secretary-General’s concern about the substantial resource gaps in United Nations funding for AMISOM, which continue to hinder the effectiveness of the Mission and could discourage potential troop contributors. In addition, AMISOM forces should be provided more effective operational logistics in order to strengthen their capacity. We lend our support to an integrated, coherent United Nations approach to the challenges confronting Somalia, and welcome the Secretary-General’s intention to take further steps towards establishing an integrated United Nations presence in Somalia. Algeria is pleased to note the increased level of coordination between the United Nations and the African Union. Algeria considers that responsibility for maintaining international peace and security lies with the United Nations. We still believe that the Security Council has a critical role to play in Somalia and that the United Nations should provide a stronger mandate and more resources to those willing to assist Somalia, particularly the African Union. It is imperative that the international community provide political, financial and economic support to Somalia commensurate with the magnitude of the challenges facing that country. In conclusion, Algeria pledges its continuing support for AMISOM, the African Union and the United Nations in their efforts to bring peace and stability to Somalia and a prosperous future for the Somali people.

I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia.

I would like to express my delegation’s gratitude to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his comprehensive report on Somalia (S/2010/447), and my deep appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mahiga, for his efforts to engage with the main actors in the peace process. I would also like to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya for his detailed briefing on developments in Somalia and on the concrete efforts of the subregional organizations, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union, in stabilizing that country. Ethiopia has been doing whatever is necessary to ensure the success of the peace process in Somalia. Our regional organization, IGAD, supports the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in its endeavours to ensure peace and stability in Somalia. IGAD underlines once again the critical need to provide the financial and logistical support to enable the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to reach its authorized level of 8,100 troops. The African Union Assembly, demonstrating its commitment to peace in Somalia, endorsed the decisions of the IGAD heads of State and Government in July, including the decision to deploy an additional 2,000 peacekeepers to AMISOM immediately. My delegation would like to stress the need for concerted effort on the part of the international community to assist the African Union in increasing its forces to the level necessary to enable AMISOM to carry out its mandated peacekeeping activities. Nevertheless, the ultimate solution is to transform AMISOM into a United Nations peacekeeping force. Ethiopia calls for concrete action by the Security Council aimed at stabilizing Somalia permanently by helping the TFG and AMISOM to bring normalcy to that war-ravaged nation. The international community must continue to assist the TFG, the only legitimate body that can bring sustainable peace, which must be encouraged to show itself able to work credibly with its partners and to deliver results. No one can pretend that deploying military forces in isolation can resolve Somalia’s problems. IGAD, Somalia’s neighbouring States, the African Union and the TFG have all been working to move the political process forward. Ethiopia believes that the transitional federal institutions should work to strengthen internal cohesion while avoiding the tensions to which the country has been prone in the past, obstructing the implementation of the Transitional Federal Charter. We believe that the political leaders should resolve disputes among themselves and take tangible steps towards the fulfilment of their commitments through genuine consultation and dialogue. We applaud the commendable and tangible results achieved thus far, one of which has been the broadening of the peace process in order to bring on board others who are prepared to work for peace and stability in Somalia. It is important to ensure that the training of security forces is conducted in a more organized and coherent way, restructuring the TFG’s security institutions by making them more effective and manageable, with proper command-and-control structures. My delegation, while recognizing the constructive consultations between the TFG and Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a, encourages the leadership of the TFG to show the necessary determination to resolve to work together. It is necessary to acknowledge that the TFG has consistently made it clear that it is prepared to talk to any and all groups that reject extremism and violence. The United Nations should work to maintain unity within the TFG. Somalia continues to be the most dangerous threat to regional and international security, due to the failure of the international community to take timely action when Al-Shabaab succeeded in galvanizing the support of its partners. Ethiopia condemns the terrorist attacks on civilians in Kampala and Mogadishu by Al-Shabaab and its supporters. We would like to emphasize that the Security Council must not abandon Somalis to international terrorism. Al-Shabaab and its allies, who are closely linked to Al-Qaida, must be defeated. The United Nations and the regional organizations and countries involved should move forward in the struggle against the international terrorist networks. The Council is fully aware of Eritrea’s support for extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, which continue to enjoy substantial Eritrean military and logistical backing. There is explicit evidence of Eritrea’s continued involvement in the transfer of weapons to Somalia. Eritrea has yet to be deterred from violating the Council’s resolutions in its ongoing support for terrorists and efforts to destabilize countries in the region. Ethiopia considers that any investigation of human rights violations in Somalia should be undertaken within the mandate of the Human Rights Council, and particularly by the Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Somalia. We believe that the efforts at the United Nations level to fight impunity within the Djibouti peace process should be Somali- owned. In conclusion, my delegation reiterates that the Council should work to re-hat AMISOM to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.