S/PV.6701 Security Council

I thank Mr. Pascoe for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Lamamra. Mr. Lamamra: On behalf of the African Union, let me start by expressing our gratitude to the Security Council for according us this opportunity to address it at such a critical juncture in the Somalia peace process. The Council’s decision to schedule this meeting on Somalia, at the request of the African Union (AU), is a testament to the importance that members of the Council attach to the situation in that country, as well as to their commitment to build the kind of partnership that the challenges in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa so urgently require. AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping sincerely regrets that prior commitments have prevented him from attending this meeting. He extends his compliments to the Council and its members, confident that today’s deliberations will pave the way for further progress in the relentless search for lasting peace and reconciliation in Somalia. More than a year ago, I had the opportunity to address (see S/PV.6407) this organ on the issue of Somalia to convey the request made then by the AU Peace and Security Council and to appeal for the enhancement of the United Nations support package to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Subsequently, the Security Council adopted resolution 1964 (2010), which authorized the Secretary-General to continue to provide support for an enhanced troop strength of 12,000. That the Security Council decision fell short of what the AU had requested is in no doubt. Yet, it represented a step forward, and we endeavored to make the best out of it in support of the aspirations of the Somali people to lasting peace, security and stability. Today, I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made on the ground by the forces of AMISOM and those of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). For the first time in 20 years, almost the whole of Mogadishu is under the control of the TFG. In addition, military operations in other parts of the country by TFG forces, with the support of Kenya and Ethiopia, have further weakened Al-Shabaab extremists and other anti-peace elements. The Somali population has been quick to embrace the relative peace brought about by the efforts of AMISOM and TFG forces. Since August 2011, the capital, Mogadishu, has experienced something of a revival. Roads are being repaired, homes rebuilt and markets reopened. Real estate prices — for instance, along Via Moscow — have doubled. And people are now staying out in the streets late into the night, despite the omnipresent threat of terrorist attacks. Traffic at the Aden Abdulleh International Airport has trebled, while the line of ships waiting to dock at the sea port grows longer by the day. Mogadishu has played host to several high-profile visitors, including the African Union Commission Chairperson, Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, the President of the General Assembly, President Ismaël Omar Guelleh of Djibouti and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey. Those achievements were made by an under- resourced and under-equipped AMISOM. They also came at a considerable cost to the Mission. Scores of young Burundians and Ugandans, fighting side-by-side with their Somali comrades, have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. The month of October 2011 was particularly difficult, as AMISOM and TFG forces stepped-up their efforts to secure the capital after the forced withdrawal of Al-Shabaab. We at the African Union are determined to ensure that the sacrifices they have made, on behalf of all of us, are not in vain. We are therefore grateful to the people and the Government of Burundi and of Uganda. Their actions are a true reflection of African solidarity and our collective commitment to stand by the people of Somalia in their hour of need. In spite of the severe challenges posed by a devastating humanitarian crisis, the gains made on the ground have created an unprecedented window of opportunity to further peace and reconciliation and to help the Somali people open a new chapter in their troubled history. This is all the more true as progress is also being made on the political front, particularly since the middle of last year. The implementation of the Kampala Accord of June 2011 and the political road map of September 2011 is generally on course. Undoubtedly, some challenges remain to be overcome. One could, in this respect, point to the prevailing situation in the Transitional Federal Parliament, which has been in a state of paralysis and, on one occasion, was the scene of a brawl as a result of the illegal removal of the Speaker of the Parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. Yet such difficulties are to be expected given the complexity and protracted nature of the conflict in Somalia. In a way, the situation is as much a reflection of deficiencies in leadership on the part of the Somali stakeholders as it is an indication of a failure on the part of the international community to provide support that is truly commensurate with the challenges at hand. It is against that background that the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), recognizing the urgent need to help the Somali people sustain this renewed momentum in the peace process, decided to pursue the critical approach of enhancing the capacity of both AMISOM and TFG forces. I am glad to report that the strategic concept for future AMISOM operations, whose development involved broad consultations with the Somali authorities, the troop-contributing countries (TCCs), United Nations and other partners in Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Mogadishu, as well as a series of planning sessions, was endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council at its 306th meeting, held in Addis Ababa on 5 January. The Secretariat deserves our highest commendation for fully supporting this process, including the deployment of a team of competent United Nations planners who worked very closely with the Commission to finalize the strategic concept. That document is therefore the product of a joint effort. Essentially, the strategic concept provides for the following: an increase in the level of United Nations- supported AMISOM uniformed personnel from 12,000 to 17,731, including 5,700 from the new troop- contributing countries, a Djiboutian contingent and the rehatted Kenyan troops, as well as an AMISOM police component; the deployment by Burundi and Uganda of additional troops to reach the current United Nations- authorized strength of 12,000; the extension of AMISOM’s area of responsibility, including the insertion of AMISOM troops in the areas liberated with the support of Ethiopia; the provision of the required force enablers and multipliers, as well as logistical support to other components of AMISOM; and, last but not least, enhancement of the TFG security and allied forces, so as to enable and empower them to play an increased role in the implementation of the strategic concept. I wish to reiterate the call made by the Peace and Security Council of the AU for the Security Council to expeditiously consider and authorize the support required for the implementation of the strategic concept for future AMISOM operations. The strategic concept relies very heavily on the provision of force enablers and multipliers, logistical support, funding for reimbursement of contingent-owned equipment, self- sustenance of troops and other critical requirements. We remain appreciative of the support being provided on the ground to AMISOM by the United Nations, and we certainly look forward to the pursuit of such a joint endeavour. The AU Commission, on its part, is accelerating preparations and consultations on the follow-on planning requirements through continued engagement with our four troop-contributing countries — Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda — and with IGAD countries, countries of the region and other partners. This will include the elaboration and early finalization of a revised AMISOM concept of operations so as to adequately address all relevant pending issues, such as command and control, liaison and coordination, and troops-to-task per sector. Obviously, the military efforts of AMISOM and the TFG forces are designed to achieve the political objectives that are articulated in the Mogadishu road map. With incoming Kenyan forces now an integral part of AMISOM, and with the support provided by Ethiopia, several new areas throughout the country are being liberated from terrorist insurgents. In that context, it is important to ensure that there is no political vacuum in the liberated regions. That highlights the need for increased political outreach and reconciliation on the part of the TFG, as well as recovery support. Therefore, coherence between military operations and political strategy remains imperative and is adequately articulated in the strategic concept. Consequently, the African Union Commission will continue to support the concerted efforts of the Special Representative of the Chairperson, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga; and the IGAD Facilitator, Kipruto Kirwa, to assist the Somali leaders and other stakeholders in focusing on the implementation of the Kampala Accord and the political road map in the light of the progress achieved so far, in particular at the Garowe conference on constitution-making. Somalia is at a crossroads. We should not relent in urging the Somali stakeholders to take advantage of the current momentum, so as to once and for all bring to an end the violence and suffering visited upon their people by two decades of conflict and destruction. We should insist on the need for them to fully comply with the commitments contained in the Kampala Accord and the Mogadishu road map. We should continue to stress that they have the primary responsibility for achieving lasting peace and reconciliation in their country. At the same time, we should not lose sight of the fact that the Somalis cannot succeed without adequate support from the international community. As stressed by the Chair of the AU Commission in his 15 October 2010 report on Somalia to the Peace and Security Council, we cannot hide from the fact that, so far, the international community has yet to fully assume its responsibility in Somalia. Its action in Somalia has been belated, hardly keeping pace with developments on the ground, partial — forcefully addressing some aspects of the crisis, for instance the scourge of piracy, while not giving sufficient attention to the action required on the mainland — and inadequate. The resources mobilized so far are incommensurate with the challenges. The international community has not shown the sense of anticipation and proactivity required or seized opportunities, when they presented themselves, to further peace and reconciliation in Somalia. Today, learning from our past experiences and shortcomings, we have the opportunity to turn the situation in Somalia around for the greater good of its long-suffering people and in support of regional stability and international security. As the present deliberations proceed, I have no doubt that we are all fully aware of what is at stake. Failure to act now will be extremely costly. While reiterating our gratitude to the Security Council for the steps that it has already taken in support of AMISOM, we cannot but call on it to do more to enable us all to cover the remaining ground in our long journey towards lasting peace, reconciliation and security in Somalia. In closing, I want to again express the African Union’s appreciation to South Africa, as President of the Council, for its sustained efforts to further the partnership between the AU and the United Nations; to IGAD for its leadership and resolve; to the AMISOM TCCs, including the new contingents from Djibouti and Kenya, for their commitment; and to the Secretary- General and the Council for the continued attention being paid to the situation in Somalia.

I thank Mr. Lamamra for his briefing. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Moses Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and Chair of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.

It gives me great pleasure to attend and participate in this Security Council meeting on the situation in Somalia. May I commence by commending the Republic of South Africa, as President of the Security Council for the month of January, for having convened this meeting and for having invited Kenya, as the current Chair of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), to participate. Before I make my statement, I wish to also convey to you, Madam President, to all members of the Council and, through you, to their countries and people the very best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous 2012. It is certain that we cannot say the same for Somalia. This meeting on Somalia could not have come at a better time. It follows closely on the intense work undertaken at the regional and continental levels in the past three months that culminated in the recommendations of the 306th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, held on 5 January, which have been communicated to the Council for consideration. I personally look forward to the outcomes of today’s deliberations. The Somali crisis is a matter of which the African Union has remained seized since the start. While it has generated a range of challenges, our resolve to turn Somalia around has been unwavering. In that context, I wish to pay special tribute to Uganda and Burundi — two countries whose daughters and sons continue to pay the ultimate price for the search for peace in Somalia on behalf of the continent and the world at large. I also want to recognize the commitment of Ethiopia for its critical role and support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and allied forces, Djibouti for the deployment of its first contingent of troops to Somalia, and my country, Kenya, for its ongoing operation, which has liberated parts and populations in south and central Somalia. Those efforts have been supported immensely by the decisions taken by the Council that have endorsed the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and improved the logistics package available in support of that operation, as well as the bilateral support that has been extended in support of various activities, including the training of the Somali National Security Forces. Today’s meeting has been convened at a time of unique opportunity for Somalia. As we are all aware, we have before us an unprecedented window of opportunity to finally restore security, peace and stability in Somalia. That has been occasioned by the momentum created following the defeat and withdrawal of Al-Shabaab from Mogadishu after its defeat by AMISOM and the TFG forces in August 2011. The operations of the Kenyan and TFG forces in southern and central Somalia also dealt a devastating blow to Al-Shabaab, and Ethiopia’s assistance has made its case even more precarious. That concert of action was followed by another first, that is, the cooperative effort among the troop- contributing countries, regional countries, the African Union and the United Nations that developed the new strategic concept for future operations of AMISOM in Somalia (see S/2012/19, annex). As the Council is aware, the AU Peace and Security Council approved its new strategic concept, which details the elements of the critical option for optimizing the operation in Somalia. Of great significance is the need to endorse the surge of troop levels from 12,000 to 17,731 and the imperative to provide the required force enablers and multipliers, as well as logistical support to the other components of AMISOM. The AU request to the Security Council of October 2010 to provide capabilities that could cut out the Al-Shabaab supply lines, especially through the port of Kismayo, and to diminish its ability and those of its international terrorist allies from supplying arms, fighters and contraband, is as relevant today as it was then. It is my hope that it will find some positive expression from the Council. I take this opportunity to renew the request for the Security Council and the international community to help in the monitoring and inspection of all vessels entering and leaving Kismayo to curb the menace. In that regard, I wish to thank the Council for adopting resolution 2023 (2011), which reinforces sanctions on Eritrea in an effort to diminish the effects of spoilers on the efforts to restore peace to Somalia. It is our hope that that resolution, like others before it, will be implemented in full. In the experience of Kenya, Al-Shabaab is a force that has visited very many destructive elements on the region. It has attacked our tourist installations. It has tossed grenades into churches, with human casualties. It has kidnapped and captured Kenyan soldiers, whose whereabouts are unknown. It has captured aid workers in the Dadaab refugee camp, whose whereabouts are also unknown. It has captured a tourist, who died in its hands, and it still has the audacity to claim ransom for a dead body to be released, among many other atrocities. We are also worried by the current political developments in Somalia that threaten to derail the political process. Hence, the timelines of the transitional period, as delineated in the Kampala Accord and the Mogadishu road map, are upset. The AU believes that the political process must remain within the framework developed. Hence, it hopes that the Council can join in bringing its weight upon the Somalia political leadership, through the use of alternative means of persuasion and incentives, to safeguard it and to ensure that the gains made in the military and security sectors add value to the overall objective of achieving peace in Somalia. As we pursue the political and military strategies in Somalia, it is also imperative that we focus attention on the humanitarian situation in the country. As Council members are aware, Kenya hosts more than 600,000 refugees in the Dadaab complex, where humanitarian assistance efforts continue to be threatened, especially in view of the withdrawal of some agencies following Al-Shabaab attacks and threats. Furthermore, the humanitarian needs in the liberated areas of Somalia are great, in particular after the expulsion of more than 20 humanitarian organizations. I wish to draw the attention of the Council to the need to encourage and urge humanitarian actors to stand in solidarity with Somalia, to exert pressure to ensure humanitarian access and to take measures to hold accountable those who inhibit or subvert humanitarian efforts. Kenya remains committed to providing the necessary corridors and support for humanitarian access to the needy in Somalia. Furthermore, it is critical to encourage activities that restore normalcy and enable the resumption of livelihood activities, especially in areas that have been liberated. Such efforts will form the basis for extending TFG governance to those regions, increase the legitimacy of the transitional process and bolster reconciliation activities. For its part, Kenya has assisted by helping senior ministers of the Transitional Federal Government to visit and address their nationals in the areas that have been liberated. In addition, we call on all parties concerned to reflect on the next steps for Somalia after the end of the transition period in August. In that regard, we commend the United Kingdom and Turkey for their efforts to show renewed interest in organizing meetings on Somalia. We hope that such meetings will add value to the ongoing process. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister of Turkey and the Secretary-General for showing leadership by visiting Mogadishu. Subsequent visits were made during the same period by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence of Kenya. As we prepare to give Somalia the rightful place that we all expect it to have among other countries, Kenya is preparing to send its Ambassador to that country, who is based in Nairobi, to join the Turkish Ambassador who is currently residing in Mogadishu. We urge other countries with Nairobi-based representatives to Somalia to do the same. The pressure that we have placed on Al-Shabaab has shown that piracy, described previously by the Secretary-General as a land-borne disease, not a sea- borne disease, has been on the decline. Statistics for the past two months show that the number of ships being hijacked has decreased quite considerably. I hope that this will show the international community that putting pressure on, and eventually defeating, Al-Shabaab will be one of the many ways of eliminating piracy, which has made the shipping routes of the Indian Ocean ever so dangerous and expensive. Finally, I call on the Council to support efforts to build the capacity of Somali institutions to provide security and administrative services to the country’s people. Those efforts are critical to achieving the ultimate objective of sustainable peace in Somalia and therefore cannot be left to ad hoc measures that remain largely uncoordinated. We urge the Council to remain focused on, and seized of, the situation in Somalia, as has been the case. We in the region, in particular the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, will play our part by doing what we can to support our brothers and sisters in Somalia.

I thank Minister Wetangula for his briefing. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Crispus Kiyonga, Minister of Defence of Uganda.

I would like to congratulate you, Madam President, and the delegation of South Africa on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January. I also thank you for organizing this important and timely briefing on Somalia. On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I would like to thank the Security Council for its commitment to the cause of peace and security on the African continent, and in Somalia in particular. This briefing is taking place at a time when we can look back and say that we have made visible progress in moving forward to stabilize Somalia. We can say that now there are prospects; there is a new opportunity to harness efforts in order to deal a final blow to the terrorist forces of Al-Shabaab. That opportunity should not be squandered. The members of the international community should galvanize their efforts to seize this opportunity to save ourselves from the scourge of terrorism in the region. Uganda and Burundi, acting through the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), have been in Mogadishu supporting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and battling Al-Shabaab since 2007. We have driven the enemy out of Mogadishu and enabled the TFG to control the city. We have created an environment in which international actors can safely travel into and out of Mogadishu. We have secured the airport and the seaport. Those achievements have been made at great sacrifice in terms of lives lost on the battlefront — those of our sons and daughters, among the troop-contributing countries and in the TFG. Those gains have been achieved at the cost of resources expended by the United Nations, the European Union and a number of bilateral donors. The view of Uganda is that we could have made even greater progress had it not been for a number of shortcomings. In our analysis, those include the challenges related to cohesion within the TFG leadership and the failure to fast-track the development of Somali security forces. In our view, five years down the line, those forces would now be in control of Mogadishu had they been developed at a much faster rate. Additional shortcomings are related to the insufficiency of forces within AMISOM, the less-than- adequate facilitation of AMISOM and the initial lack of enthusiasm from the international community. What is the new situation that gives us optimism that we can now defeat Al-Shabaab and stabilize Somalia? First, I want to commend the Republic of Kenya for taking two important steps: pursuing Al-Shabaab terrorists into Somalia in defence of their country and taking the decision to now be part and parcel of the AMISOM force. Secondly, I want to thank the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the strong support it has given to the TFG allied forces, which has led to the capture from Al-Shabaab of important areas along the border with Somalia. Thirdly, I want to commend the Republic of Djibouti, which has started to deploy its promised 850 troops to Somalia as part of AMISOM. In the next few weeks, Burundi will deploy an additional 1,000 troops to Somalia. The delay in that particular troop deployment was occasioned by the need to organize the logistics. For its part, Uganda will complete its final deployment of 1,700 troops to Somalia by March. Again, the delay is due to the fact that the Government of the United States has been organizing the logistics that these troops need in order to be deployed. As we have heard, Kenya and Djibouti have together undertaken to deploy to AMISOM a total of over 5,000 troops in order to beef it up to a force of over 17,000 troops. And so now we not only have more troops, but also Al-Shabaab is being attacked on a number of fronts, including in Mogadishu, on the border with Kenya and from the border with Ethiopia. The fight against piracy also offers prospects for beefing up the fight against Al-Shabaab. The pirates who have disrupted international trade through their actions on the high seas are incubated on mainland Somalia. Therefore, it is critical that we take advantage of the new situation to effectively link the anti-piracy fight with the overall struggle to stabilize Somalia. The re-establishment of the Somali State and the restoration of law and order to that country will be sure ways of dealing with the root causes of piracy. As the Council is aware, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union has approved a strategic concept for future AMISOM operations in Somalia, based on a technical analysis and recommendation made by an AU-United Nations technical assessment team. What, then, should our next steps be? We recommend in the main that, first, the Security Council approve the expansion of AMISOM force levels from 12,000 to 17,731, as requested by the AU Peace and Security Council; secondly, that the Council recognize that the fight against Al-Shabaab is now beyond Mogadishu; thirdly, that the Council enhance its support package to AMISOM adequately so that the assessed contributions of the United Nations cover the payment for force multipliers and enablers, as recommended in the strategic concept — this package should include compensation for contingent-owned equipment as well; and fourthly, that some of the resources being used to fight piracy be extended and linked to the effort to stabilize mainland Somalia. Uganda welcomes the initiative of the United Kingdom to convene a special summit on Somalia in London in February, and looks forward to a positive outcome in terms of mobilizing greater support for political, security, humanitarian and development efforts. In order to allay any doubts, I want to make reference to some concerns I have heard since arriving in New York to the effect that there is lack of clarity about the command-and-control structure of the proposed expanded AMISOM force. Since Kenya entered Somalia and Ethiopia renewed support to the TFG allied forces, intensive consultations have been taking place at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia have been in constant contact on this matter. The summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has held a number of extraordinary sessions on the matter of Somalia. Even before the joint AU-United Nations technical assessment team was formed, the IGAD summit had tasked the Chiefs of Defence Staff in our region to clearly articulate how the coordination of our forces in the field could be achieved. Until Friday last week, the only difference that existed at the level of the Chiefs of Defence Staff was the issue of whether the 12,000 troops contributed by Uganda and Burundi should all be deployed in Mogadishu or if part of the force should be deployed in the newly liberated zones. Last week, consensus was reached among the troop-contributing countries that the additional 2,700 troops to be deployed by Uganda and Burundi should not go to Mogadishu. Their deployment will take into account the liberated areas created by actions taken by Kenya and Ethiopia. Therefore, we, the Ministers of Defence of the troop-contributing countries, instructed our Chiefs of Defence Staff to further fine-tune the command-and-control architecture proposed by the joint AU-United Nations technical team to take account of this consensus. This is being done and will be ready within the next few days. In conclusion, the consultations taking place at IGAD and the AU are intended not only to address the military aspects of our work in Somalia but, even more critically, to focus attention on the political question. We know only too well that the crisis in Somalia is basically of a political rather than of a military nature.

I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council.

First of all, I should like to welcome the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Her Excellency Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. I also thank Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe; the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, Ambassador Lamamra; and the representatives of the countries contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for their very intensive and deep briefings. I would like to express our support for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia in its efforts to overcome difficulties, achieve reconciliation and build a secure, stable, united, democratic and prosperous nation. Let me also express our full support for AMISOM, commend the efforts of the Somali National Security Forces, and pay tribute to the troop- contributing countries. I would also like to commend the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its member States in contributing to achieving peace and national reconciliation in Somalia and mobilizing assistance to meet the urgent needs of the peoples affected by the humanitarian crisis in that country. We must continue to approach the complex situation in Somalia with care and sensitivity and on the basis of a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing the political, humanitarian and security problems in that country through the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. As Somalia moves towards the end of the transition in August, special efforts should be made to protect security and the political gains of the past few years, and to ensure that all steps ultimately contribute to the delivery of the road map. It is obvious that security gains on the ground cannot be consolidated without adequate assistance from the international community, including in providing AMISOM with all necessary resources to strengthen its capabilities and to contribute to the implementation of its mandate. As the Secretary- General makes clear in his recent report on Somalia, “the resources available to the United Nations and AMISOM for Somalia are not commensurate with the challenges or the mandates given” (S/2011/759, para. 94). We fully support the Secretary-General’s view that Somalia needs sustained help in order to implement the road map. The decisions taken on 5 January by the African Union Peace and Security Council and its call on the Security Council in that regard should also be taken into careful consideration. We also stress the importance of continued international assistance for the building of Somalia’s security institutions. We take note of the need for adequate military assistance to fight asymmetric terrorist attacks. We are gravely concerned that the humanitarian situation in Somalia continues to deteriorate. Azerbaijan has responded to the appeals of respective Governments and international organizations to provide urgent aid aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia — the worst-affected country in the region. It is important that the international community continue to support Somalia, including by contributing to the United Nations consolidated appeal for that country. At the same time, all parties must allow unimpeded humanitarian access and refrain from actions that threaten the safety of the local population and those assisting them. There is also a need to redouble efforts to find long-term solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons in Somalia. Azerbaijan is ready to continue its support. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): I would like to thank Mr. Pascoe and Commissioner Lamamra for their briefings today. I also thank you, Madam President, for your own important statement. I also welcome the insightful contributions from the Foreign Minister of Kenya and the Minister of Defence of Uganda. As you yourself said, Madam President, we are discussing Somalia at a time of real opportunity. The current situation in Somalia is grave. Instability, drought and famine continue to blight the country and to inflict unimaginable suffering on the Somali people. But this is also a time of opportunity. We have entered a crucial year for the political process in Somalia, and there has been some progress on the ground in the area of security. Al-Shabaab is being driven back on several fronts in south-central Somalia. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has secured most of Mogadishu, and regional administrations continue to develop. The United Kingdom believes that we need to seize that opportunity to make real progress in Somalia and to deliver a better future for the Somali people. I would like to make four main points today: on the humanitarian situation, the political process, AMISOM and the upcoming London conference on Somalia. First, we salute the work of the United Nations and other humanitarian actors in Somali to combat the famine and drought affecting the country. We also welcome the support from new donors to the United Nations consolidated appeal for Somalia. But it is vital that the international community continue to provide its sustained support for the relief effort. It is clear that more work needs to be done in that area. Secondly, the United Kingdom is committed to supporting the United Nations-led Djibouti peace process and to working with Somalis and international partners to build a peaceful and stable Somalia. The transitional governmental arrangements under the Djibouti peace process end in August. We urge the Transitional Federal Institutions to avoid squabbling and to cooperate with each other to make substantive progress in the implementation of the road map before that date. In particular, it is imperative that we see progress on reconciliation and establish dialogue among all those who are willing to subscribe to a peaceful political process. Local and regional administrations can play an important role in that. The process for developing a new constitution must be more inclusive and representative, so that all Somalis feel that the new constitutional arrangements reflect a genuine national discussion. In short, it is time for Somalia to move out of transition and towards genuine legitimate and representative Government structures based on a constitutional process. Somalis themselves must determine their own governance structures. The international community will support them, but the transition must end in August. Thirdly, I would like to welcome the considerable success that AMISOM and the Somali national security forces have achieved in recent months. That has been possible thanks to the commitment and courage of AMISOM troops. I would like to pay particular tribute to the Ugandan and Burundian contingents, who have suffered many losses in achieving that success. However, as Defence Minister Kiyonga said, the threat has not disappeared. Now more than ever, it is essential that we provide AMISOM the support that it needs to consolidate security in the areas it controls and to expand the secure areas as a part of a clear, realistic and coordinated military strategy. We recognize that predictable and sustainable funding is essential for AMISOM to be able to operate effectively. That is why the United Kingdom is providing $15 million in uncaveated funding to the United Nations Trust Fund for AMISOM. That is in addition to the $6 million that we contributed in 2011. But such contributions are only a temporary solution. We are determined that a long-term solution be found to provide sustainable funding for AMISOM. AMISOM must be run in an effective, efficient and accountable manner. Regional States and AMISOM must coordinate effectively. A coordinated — indeed, integrated — regional approach is essential to security in Somalia. We welcome the United Nations-African Union cooperation at the operational level, and on peacekeeping more generally, and encourage the efforts of the African Union (AU) and its partners to further enhance AU peacekeeping capabilities. In that context, we take careful note of the report (see S/2012/19, annex) of the African Union Peace and Security Council following the technical assessment mission. However, the report leaves a number of questions unanswered, as Mr. Pascoe explained. We therefore look forward to more detailed information and recommendations in the forthcoming report of the Secretary-General. The United Kingdom will consider those recommendations carefully, and we are ready to lead the Council’s response to them in the month of February. Fourthly, the United Kingdom believes that there is an opportunity now to address the wider strategic challenges facing Somalia. That opportunity should not be squandered. That is why British Prime Minister David Cameron will hold a conference in London on 23 February to discuss how the international community might more effectively support progress towards peace and stability in Somalia. The United Nations and our African partners will of course continue to lead for the international community, but the United Kingdom aims to act as a catalyst for a new action-oriented international approach to supporting their efforts in Somalia. Finally, the problem of piracy remains a serious threat to the international community as a whole. It destabilizes Somalia and undermines our efforts to promote the rule of law and security. As a contribution to those efforts, we will also use the London conference to promote industry engagement in regional maritime capacity-building. Now more than ever, there is an opportunity to build stability in Somalia. Now we believe is the time for the international community to come together and to act. We must take that opportunity and achieve real and sustainable progress in the coming months.

I welcome you here today, Madam President, to preside over this meeting. I would like to thank Under- Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe; African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra; His Excellency Mr. Moses Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya; and His Excellency Mr. Crispus Kiyonga, Minister of Defence of Uganda for their statements. I also welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan at our meeting today. There has been some progress in the current situation in Somalia. All parties in Somalia are continuing their efforts to implement the road map for the end of the transition. They have also taken important steps in drafting a constitution and reforming the Parliament. Somalia’s security forces and the military operations of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) continue to produce significant results. The areas under Al-Shabaab control continue to diminish in size. The international community has paid greater attention and made greater inputs into the situation in Somalia. We now face a rare historic window of opportunity to address the question of Somalia. At the same time, we should also be aware of the serious challenges facing Somalia in the political, security and humanitarian spheres. Effectively implementing the road map is key to lasting peace and stability in Somalia. All parties concerned in Somalia should take advantage of the current favourable opportunity by fully implementing the road map and concluding the transition on schedule. The international community should also provide greater support to Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The TFG should maintain its internal unity, which is important in order to ensure peace and stability in the country. China has noted that the Transitional Federal Parliament is facing a number of serious internal differences. We hope that all parties concerned can strengthen their communication and mutual trust, addressing their differences through dialogue so as to avert any unnecessary disruption in the peace process in Somalia. China welcomes the achievements registered by the Somali security forces and AMISOM in their military operations. China appreciates the contributions made by the United Nations, the African Union, other international and regional organizations and the Governments of Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. We hope that Somalia’s TFG can take effective measures to bring about peace and stability in the area under its control. The African Union is playing a crucial role in addressing Somalia’s problems. The United Nations should attach great importance to its requests and recommendations. The AU recently adopted a strategic concept for the future operations of AMISOM that calls for an increase in its troop strength, an expansion of its areas of responsibility and an increase in United Nations logistical support, which will help to promote peace and stability in Somalia. China welcomes those recommendations and hopes that the Security Council will respond positively to them. China remains concerned at the serious humanitarian situation in Somalia. We appreciate the relief efforts undertaken by the international humanitarian organizations operating there and urge all parties concerned fully to cooperate with the international community in that respect. We call upon the international community to continue to provide Somalia with more effective support.

Somalia is experiencing important changes at several levels. We fully subscribe to the Secretary-General’s assessment that it is time to take advantage of the existing window of opportunity in three different but interlinked dimensions: the security, humanitarian and political dimensions. I should therefore like to start by thanking you, Madam President, for having convened today’s debate, which brings together key partners to exchange views at this critical juncture for Somalia, and also for your important statement. Allow me to greet the Ministers of Azerbaijan, Kenya and Uganda and to thank them for their very useful contributions to our debate, and also to thank Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe and Commissioner Lamamra for their very comprehensive briefings. Portugal agrees with the assessment that it is essential to consolidate the gains made on the ground, both in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country, by ensuring the delivery of basic services to the population, promoting good governance and safeguarding peace and security in Somalia. Doing so will ensure that the efforts and sacrifices made by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), regional partners and the Somali security forces, all of which we commend, will also be honoured. Safeguarding peace and security is a task to be fulfilled in the first instance by the Somali military and police forces. That is an objective to which we will continue to contribute, namely through the European Union’s training mission in Somalia. Nevertheless, AMISOM has played, and will continue to play, a crucial role in supporting and protecting the Transitional Federal Institutions. We reiterate our support for the Mission and look forward to the Secretary-General’s report in the light of the recent recommendations of the African Union Peace and Security Council for AMISOM’s future operations. At the same time, Portugal believes that the acceleration of the deployment of additional troops will positively contribute to filling the security vacuum created in the areas liberated from Al-Shabaab’s presence. In that regard, we express our appreciation to Burundi and Uganda for their willingness to deploy additional troops to reach the current United Nations- authorized strength of 12,000 troops, and we pay tribute to the courage of and the sacrifices made by their soldiers. We take this opportunity also to acknowledge the efforts made so far by all partners involved in military action to minimize the negative impact of military intervention on Somali civilians, and we encourage them to continue to do so, as well as to promote the safety and welfare of civilians fleeing conflict and the food crisis in the country. Despite the positive trends, Al-Shabaab attacks, which are still a reality, along with continuing famine throughout the country and the piracy off the coast of Somalia, highlight the importance of ensuring the successful implementation of the road map, as military action alone will not create lasting peace in Somalia. Within the framework of the Kampala Accord and the road map to end the transition in Somalia, some progress has been achieved, the most recent being the holding of the Garowe constitutional conference. However, many challenges still lie ahead. We call on the signatories to the Kampala Accord to ensure cohesion, unity and focus on the completion of the priority tasks, so that the transitional period may indeed come to an end in August. As Portugal has stated previously, it is also of paramount importance to ensure inclusiveness and representativeness throughout that process — and we recall to that end the constructive role that women can play in that context — as well as ensuring full respect for human rights. On the humanitarian front, we remain deeply concerned over the prolonged nature of the crisis and the famine that continues to prevail throughout the country. We are nevertheless encouraged by the enduring efforts being made on the ground by all the humanitarian partners against a background of very challenging conditions. However, assistance will be fruitful only if it reaches those in need in a timely way. To that end, we urge all partners to ensure full and unhindered access for humanitarian aid across Somalia. The Secretary-General’s visit to Somalia was an unequivocal sign of the political commitment of the international community to the country and its people. We call on the Somali parties to continue to pursue the path towards peace and stability. For its part, Portugal will continue its efforts within various forums to help to define a strategy that comprehensively addresses the multiple challenges that Somalia faces at the political, security, humanitarian, human rights and socio- economic levels. In that context, we very much welcome the upcoming conference in London. In concluding, let me also extend a word of appreciation for the work carried out by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Mahiga, and the commitment of the African Union and other regional partners to make the current moment, as Mr. Ban Ki-moon underlined last month, “a moment of fresh opportunities” for the future of the Somali people (see S/PV.6681).

Allow me at the outset to thank you, Madam President, for having convened this meeting, which makes it possible to strengthen the dialogue and coordination between the African Union and the United Nations on the question of Somalia. In that respect, I should like to thank Commissioner Lamamra for having made the trip to New York to present the positions of the African Union, as well as the Ministers of Kenya and of Uganda. Lastly, I thank Mr. Pascoe for his presentation. On the political front, a key milestone was achieved with the adoption on 6 September last by the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) in Somalia, the Presidents of Puntland and of Galmudug, and representatives of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a of the road map setting out the priority tasks to be carried out by 20 August 2012. The timely implementation of all components of that road map is now imperative. Although the TFIs face considerable challenges, they must nevertheless take advantage without delay of the favourable developments in the security situation in Mogadishu so as to implement the objectives set out in the road map. We also expect the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to be genuinely proactive in the fight against maritime piracy. The report of the Secretary-General dated 9 December 2011 (S/2011/759) makes clear that insufficient progress has been made in the implementation of the road map. Moreover, the parliamentary crisis that started on 13 December with the attempt to dismiss the speaker continues. In those conditions, our vigilance with respect to the action of the Transitional Institutions is only heightened. As the Council has already pointed out, the continuing support of the international community for the Transitional Institutions will depend on the implementation of the road map in the set timeframe. Those who would impede the peace process, as well as peace and security in Somalia, could be subject to Security Council sanctions. However, we must also note the positive developments. Significant progress has been made on the constitutional aspect of the road map and on parliamentary reform. The national conference on the constitutional process, which was held from 21 to 23 December 2011 in Garowe, in Puntland, was a relative success, as it made it possible to set clear principles for the next steps of that process. That progress must now be consolidated and the efforts continued and supported. On the security front, the success of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali security forces in recent months has made it possible to regain control of new areas of Mogadishu and its surroundings. Such results must be welcomed, while the troops deployed on the ground undertake their work in particularly difficult conditions. Such progress on the ground was confirmed by the visit of the Secretary- General to Mogadishu last December, for the first time in 18 years, and the announcement of a return of United Nations agencies to the Somali capital. Those are positive signs for the future, on which we can congratulate ourselves and that we welcome. Similarly, the intervention led by Kenya since October 2011, which was simultaneously carried out by Ethiopia, relying on militias in the Somali west, have also helped to weaken Al-Shabaab. We are delighted by that weakening of Al-Shabaab, which is an encouraging sign for the future of the political transition. In that context, the African Union has submitted detailed requests to the Security Council to strengthen AMISOM, while the situation indeed seems favourable. As we have heard, those requests in particular entail raising the troop ceiling and extending the scope of the logistical support package. The new strategic concept for AMISOM on 5 January (see S/2012/19, annex) specifies the context in which those requests are made. That strategic concept must now undergo a thorough political, operational and financial review, in particular on the basis of the report that the Secretary-General will soon submit to us. Moreover, we recall that establishing credible Somali security forces is also essential. That is an issue of political credibility for the Transitional Federal Government. It is those forces that should take over from AMISOM as soon as possible, and thus complete the stabilization of the country in terms of security. I will conclude by raising the humanitarian situation, which is still a matter of concern. Four million people, including 3 million in the south, still need food assistance, while access to humanitarian aid is possible only for approximately 1.5 million people, given the deteriorating security situation and cases of food aid being diverted. The United Nations, like humanitarian non-governmental organizations, provides vital support to the population affected by the famine in the entire region. We continue to stand ready to respond to the food crisis in the Horn of Africa. Unimpeded access of humanitarian aid must be ensured.

I wish to start by welcoming the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of South Africa, Her Excellency Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and by expressing appreciation for her having agreed to preside over our meetings this morning and this afternoon. Secondly, I would like to thank the representative of the African Union Commission, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, for his briefing to us, as well as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and the Minister of Defence of Uganda for their statements. I also thank Mr. Lynn Pascoe for providing a briefing to inform our discussion. This meeting is related to the debate to be held tomorrow on the cooperation between the African Union and United Nations, given that the United Nations has established an important strategic partnership with the African Union in Somalia. The excellent work done by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the recent collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union in planning the next phase of AMISOM operations are both illustrations and the product of that close cooperation. The historic visit of the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly to Somalia took place barely a month ago. The momentum generated by that visit certainly contributed to the outcome of the national constitutional conference, held in Garowe from 21 to 23 December 2011. The principles agreed at the conference, with the established deadlines, show the commitment of the national institutions to complete the transition period before 20 August. We agree with representatives who have underscored the importance of implementing the road map and the Kampala Accord. It is essential for the Transitional Federal Government to show leadership and resolve the parliamentary crisis. It must also improve accountability and transparency. Achieving such goals would bolster the trust of the international community. In this last phase of the transition period, the political process must be inclusive and representative of the Somali people. We also agree with the need to make a coordinated and consistent effort against Al-Shabaab. We are aware that AMISOM continues to face a serious lack of resources and, for that second phase of operations, it needs adequate, guaranteed and predictable funding. We appreciate the inputs provided today, as well as the communiqué of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union of 5 January, in which it requests the Security Council to strengthen AMISOM (see S/2012/19, annex). We will consider that request together with the recommendations of the Secretary-General. We also believe that it is important to maintain a comprehensive approach in Somalia. The security strategy must go hand in hand with implementing the road map. The long-term consequences of the humanitarian disaster and the economic development agenda must continue to be priorities. Humanitarian aid must continue for the time being. In that regard, we very much hope that the upcoming meetings — both the conference in London in February and, later, the United Nations conference in Istanbul — will help to bring the transitional period in Somalia to an end and lead to a more stable and solid system of governance. Lastly, we support the statement to the press to be made following this meeting and we welcome the efforts of the United Kingdom in preparing it.

We thank you, Madam, for convening this meeting. We welcome the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Kenya and the Minister of Defence of Uganda, and thank them for their statements. We also welcome the Foreign Minister of Uganda, and thank the Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs and the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security for their briefings. Eighteen years ago on a hot summer day, 24 Pakistani peacekeepers wearing the United Nations Blue Helmet laid down their lives in Mogadishu while saving their colleagues belonging to other nations. Fifty-seven Pakistani soldiers were injured in the incident. Pakistan’s association with the cause of Somali peace has grown ever since. This loss did not deter us from continuing our engagement with Somalia and our Somali brethren, whose cause of lasting peace and stability Pakistan has supported all along. We therefore associate ourselves strongly with the purpose of this meeting and value the briefings given earlier. We shall work for Security Council’s sustained engagement with Somalia and encourage contacts with and coherence in the work of the African Union on the subject. We extend our full support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and welcome the strategic concept of its operations, which has been endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council. The briefing of the countries contributing troops to AMISOM provided us with an important insight into the challenges faced by them in implementing their mandate with sparse resources. We commend their efforts. Predictable and continuous funding for AMISOM must be ensured. The increase of AMISOM uniformed personnel from 12,000 to 17,731 will help consolidate the gains made recently. A well- equipped and motivated AMISOM can better deliver on the ground. The international partners of Somalia and the Security Council must work in tandem to improve peacekeeping operations in Somalia. The development and enhancement of the security forces of the Transitional Federal Government are essential ingredients of the strategic concept. We believe that international assistance, including through wider engagement of the United Nations peacekeeping architecture, can be enlisted for the purpose. We share the concern expressed by speakers about the situation in Somalia. Drought and famine have exacerbated the humanitarian situation. Noting that all international projections point to the continuation of the humanitarian crisis into 2012, we call upon the international partners to remain seized of the matter. On the political front, we welcome the progress made towards constitution-making, as manifested in the Garowe Conference. Such progress paves the way for the smoother implementation of Kampala Accord and the political road map, as well as an amicable resolution of the current parliamentary crisis. In this regard, we support efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the AU and the United Nations. We look forward to the London conference and hope that it will prove to be an important milestone in Somalia’s journey towards peace and stability. Somalia’s multidimensional challenges and problems necessitate a comprehensive approach that takes into account political, security, economic and environmental factors. Such an approach will also help end the menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia. We believe that the African Union’s sustained engagement with Somalia augurs well for peace and stability in that country and the subregion. The Security Council would do well to seize this opportunity and make amends for years of neglect suffered by Somalia. Pakistan has worked for peace in Somalia over the years, including in our previous term on the Security Council. We have also been active in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Contact Group on Somalia and the United Nations Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. We will remain a steadfast partner of Somalia.

We welcome you to the Council today, Madam, as well as the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, and we thank you both for your statements. I would like to thank African Union (AU) Peace and Security Commissioner Lamamra and Under- Secretary-General Pascoe for their briefings. I would also like to thank the Ministers of Kenya and Uganda for their presentations and for the deep commitment and valuable support their countries have shown to Somalia. Working closely with the representatives of the troop-contributing countries, the joint United Nations-AU assessment mission has done excellent work in providing the basis for the briefings we have heard today. Somalia continues to face Africa’s most complex challenges. Although famine conditions have eased in some parts of the country, 3.7 million Somalis are still in need of humanitarian assistance. Nearly 1 million Somalis live in exile, and 1.5 million are displaced and experiencing famine conditions. All parties must ensure immediate and unfettered access to those in need of emergency humanitarian assistance. We should like to thank Member States for their generous support of the United Nations 2011 Somalia consolidated appeal, which was funded at 82 per cent. Still, there are many gaps. For example, the protection cluster was funded at only 17 per cent, thwarting efforts to better protect vulnerable women and girls. The recently launched 2012 consolidated appeal requests $1.5 billion. The United States urges Member States to support this appeal. Total United States humanitarian assistance to the region since 1 October 2010 is $870 million, $250 million of which have been used for Somalia. Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab continues its despicable acts, including suicide bombings, attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, and the expulsion of humanitarian organizations at the height of the world’s gravest humanitarian catastrophe. At the same time, we have a moment of opportunity to turn the tide of violence, poverty and despair in Somalia. The remarkable courage of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its Ugandan and Burundian troops has helped to liberate Mogadishu from Al-Shabaab’s occupation. We welcome Djibouti’s deployment and urge the African Union and Djibouti promptly to resolve any remaining questions about how best to integrate Djiboutian troops into the Mission. Kenya and Ethiopia have thrown their weight behind the effort to defeat Al-Shabaab, and we welcome their contributions as well. The Kampala Accord, the road map and the Garowe Conference outcome have all created momentum for critical political reforms that must complement early security gains. As difficult as it is for all of us at a time of severe resource austerity, it is imperative that the international community seize the moment in Somalia. We must come together and rise to meet these new challenges. It would be foolish to turn our backs on our collective successes thus far. They are our shared responsibility. We have listened carefully to the African Union’s calls to increase AMISOM’s troop ceiling beyond the current mandated strength, and to the various proposals to expand the use of United Nations-assessed funding to support AMISOM. We await further details from the AU, particularly concerning the command-and-control architecture, as well as the Secretariat’s report, including its cost analysis of the AU’s recommendations, and the assessment made by the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM of support needs for the AU’s operations outside of Mogadishu. We will give these proposals thorough and prompt consideration, and call for a follow-on discussion as soon as practical. The United States intends to continue its strong bilateral support to AMISOM troop-contributing countries (TCCs). To date, we have committed more than $337 million worth of training, equipment and logistic support to AMISOM and its TCCs — in addition to our assessment for the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM. Furthermore, we have committed more than $106 million worth of training, equipment and other support to develop the capacity of Somali security forces. We urge other Member States to provide in-kind support or contributions to the Trust Fund, without caveats, to fund urgently needed projects, including reimbursement for contingent- owned equipment. As AMISOM expands its footprint, it is imperative that it have predictable and uncaveated funding to sustain its operations. While AMISOM plays a critical role, a coherent and achievable political strategy must be in place. The Kampala Accord and road map to end the transition are key to achieving long-lasting peace and stability in Somalia. We call upon all Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), including Parliament as well as other signatories, to meet their obligations and responsibilities for the implementation of the road map. Let me be absolutely clear on this point: we will hold the road map signatories to account. They are responsible for achieving the tasks outlined in the road map, including an agreed upon constitution, parliamentary reform and credible and transparent elections. Any further support by the United States will be contingent upon the successful completion of the key tasks of the road map. We will stand by Somalia’s side, but we are prepared to walk away if the TFG and the TFIs cannot show concrete, measurable progress in 2012. There is some reason for optimism. While the road map process is far from complete, the December Garowe Conference, attended by the signatories of the road map, represents a significant and positive step forward on the completion of the key task of constitutional and parliamentary reform and the indirect election of a president and speaker of Parliament by August 2012. The Garowe principles, agreed to by the senior political leadership, now need further discussion and consideration by a broader cross-section of the Somali people, including civil society, which we urge begin with the second phase of the Garowe conference to be held later this month. We welcome the initiative of United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron to host the 23 February high- level conference in London to maintain momentum for the political and security success and to build international consensus and support for the path forward in Somalia. Finally, let me reiterate our strong support of the United Nations efforts in Somalia. The historic visit last month by the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly is evidence of their commitment to restoring peace and stability in Somalia. The United States commends and fully supports the decision to move the headquarters of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia to Mogadishu this month. We thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mahiga for his efforts and urge him to remain focused on compliance with the benchmarks and timelines set by the road map signatories in accordance with the Kampala Accord.

At the outset, let me thank you, Madam President, for presiding over this important meeting. We deeply appreciate the time that you are personally devoting to this issue by presiding over the Council’s deliberations. I would also like to place on record our appreciation for the participation of Commissioner Lamamra and the Ministers from Kenya, Uganda and Azerbaijan in today’s meeting, as well as for their valuable statements. I would also like to thank Under-Secretary- General Lynn Pascoe for his briefing. The situation in Somalia is at a crossroads. Two decades of instability and insecurity have taken their political, economic and social tolls and will require the concerted long-term commitment of the international community to assist the Somali people in their efforts at restoring peace, security and economic development in their country. The effective engagement of the international community during 2011 helped tide over the worst phase of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. However, approximately 250,000 people remain at risk, and there is a need to persevere with our efforts to deal with the many problems. On the political front, the extended transition period has seen the adoption of a comprehensive road map by the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), in accordance with the June 2011 Kampala Accord. The implementation of the road map is critical — in particular the drafting and adoption of the constitution, its endorsement by a constituent assembly, and parliamentary reforms — with a view to ending the transition in a timely manner by August 2012. In that regard, we have noted that several concrete measures have been taken by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). We welcome that the technical committee comprised of representatives of the TFIs, regions and the international community met twice and agreed to track progress through four subcommittees. On the other hand, the TFIs have missed a number of deadlines in the implementation of the road map. The recent developments concerning the speaker have the potential to derail the implementation of the road map; they are therefore of serious concern. We therefore urge all stakeholders to resolve their differences and expedite the implementation of the road map. On security front, we commend the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and TFG forces for the gains made against Al-Shabaab. We also commend troop-contributing countries for the sacrifices made by their soldiers in Somalia. Nevertheless, Al-Shabaab has shown that it is capable of carrying out almost daily attacks, including against high-profile targets. In that connection, we welcome the operations being undertaken by Kenyan and Ethiopian forces in coordination with the AMISOM and TFG forces. There is also a need for the Security Council to take further measures in support of the TFG to restrict the resources that Al-Shabaab earns from use of ports and the export of charcoal. We request that the Secretary-General submit a report to the Council on the requirements, in terms of naval and other assets, that would be needed for the international community to be able to interdict vessels that visit Kishmayo and other ports and profit Al-Shabaab and pirates in Somalia. Such a report would allow the Council to take an informed decision on the request of the African Union concerning use of ports by Al-Shabaab and pirates. Since AMISOM is the mainstay of the efforts of the international community for dealing with the security situation in Somalia, it is necessary that AMISOM be further strengthened. AMISOM continues to face serious resource gaps. The Council should expeditiously and favourably consider the recommendations of the African Union and troop- contributing countries on the support extended to AMISOM by the United Nations and the international community. Its funding must be made adequate, secure and predictable. It is also necessary to provide AMISOM with enablers and force multipliers such as helicopter units, transport and engineering capabilities. We support their inclusion within the United Nations support package. There is also a need to expand TFG forces and to strengthen their capacities for the long-term stability and security of Somalia. New recruitments have to be undertaken, as well as full training and the provision of proper equipment. We call on the Member States to make uncaveated contributions to the United Nations and African Union trust funds for AMISOM and to enhance their support for TFG forces. For its part, India contributed $2 million to the African Union and United Nations Trust Funds, without any caveats, for AMISOM operations last year. We stand ready to provide further support to AMISOM. Piracy off the coast of Somalia remains a serious problem facing the international community. As of 31 October 2011, Somali pirates held 19 ships and 331 hostages. Combating maritime piracy is therefore an important issue that is intrinsically linked to the security situation in Somalia. So far, the TFIs have paid little attention to that problem. We think that the benchmarks on piracy in the road map outlining transition tasks should be expeditiously implemented by the TFIs, including in such areas as the demarcation of an exclusive economic zone, the establishment of an operational coast guard and a navy and the adoption of a legal framework to address piracy, hostage-taking and payments of ransom, among other aspects. We also stand ready to help in building the capacity of the TFIs and States in the region to take effective measures against piracy off the coast of Somalia. Moreover, given the growing scope and expanding coverage of the problem, the international community has to think about adopting a comprehensive counter-piracy strategy. In our view, such a strategy should involve a United Nations-led anti-piracy force to conduct naval operations, which would help to improve coordination in anti-piracy operations by various naval forces. The strategy should also provide for the enactment of national laws on giving priority to criminalizing piracy, as defined in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea. The strategy should contain measures to effectively sanitize the Somali coastline and identify safe corridors and buffer zones. India has already taken several steps, including anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since 2008, and has also deployed its ships in the eastern and north- eastern Arabian Sea. That has helped to neutralize several attempts at piracy. While we will continue our counter-piracy operations, there is also an urgent need for the international community to address the serious problem of hostage-taking by pirates and the consequent humanitarian problems faced by hostages and their families. In conclusion, the situation in Somalia calls for the enhanced engagement of the international community with the Somali federal and regional authorities to comprehensively address the multitude of problems in the political, security, humanitarian and counter-piracy fields. The Council should stand ready to take the lead in all of those efforts.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate South Africa on having assumed the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January, as well as to welcome you, Madam Minister, as you lead the Council in its discussions today. I also wish to thank your country for having organized this meeting, in which representatives of the African Union and countries of the subregion are taking part, specifically Kenya and Uganda. I welcome the presence of their distinguished representatives in the Chamber. Finally, I wish to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union for their briefings. Togo welcomes the fact that Somalia is truly a central concern of the Security Council, which last year held several meetings and adopted a number of resolutions on issues related to that country. The situation in Somalia, which has long been unstable, has recently been taking a positive turn in the political, security and humanitarian assistance areas, as detailed in the most recent report of the Secretary- General, issued on 9 December 2011 (S/2011/759). My country welcomes the adoption, by the Transitional Federal Institutions, of the road map for ending the Somali transition by 20 August. The success of that comprehensive programme depends on the willingness of the various political actors to work together. My country urges them to do so. Obviously, that success is also contingent on the provision of sustained and meaningful financial support by the international community. While the future seems promising for Somalia, the present still remains a cause for deep concern in terms of the security situation. In his report, the Secretary-General confirms that the capital city of Mogadishu, which is now controlled almost entirely by the Transitional Federal Government, is not safe from indiscriminate attacks carried out by armed elements and former Al-Shabaab fighters wearing Transitional Federal Government uniforms. Suicide attacks are terrorizing the population and justify the deployment of additional troops to control the 16 districts of the capital. However, Mogadishu is obviously not the only city in Somalia. Somalis are being targeted by Al-Shabaab in other regions of the country. In that regard, we are pleased that the countries deploying troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), as well as other countries of the region, agreed to continue joint planning activities in order to develop options for tying together all ongoing military operations in Somalia into a coordinated and coherent effort against Al-Shabaab, as well as to extend the authority of the Transitional Federal Government beyond the capital. The execution of that ambitious plan, in a country where weapons are in wide circulation and can be bought for next to nothing, requires troops and additional resources. That is why the African Union Peace and Security Council is justified in requesting that the Security Council increase the number of AMISOM troops, which could reach a strength of 17,000. Togo welcomes the conclusions of the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council held on 5 January, in which formal recommendations were made to expand the force as a necessary step towards improving the security situation in Somalia and achieving peace and reconciliation by implementing the Kampala Accord and the Mogadishu road map. The fight against insecurity in the world is being waged, as evidenced by the measures currently under consideration by the Security Council. Nevertheless, insecurity on the high seas persists. Although the frequency of acts of piracy has diminished to some extent, several ships and dozens of hostages remain in the hands of pirates. The fight against piracy should be merciless, as the success of that phenomenon in Somalia is being emulated elsewhere, in particular in the Gulf of Guinea. The fight should be coordinated. Any assistance provided to the countries of the subregion in patrolling their coastlines must effectively confront the pirates. In that context, Togo welcomes the dynamic steps taken by the European Union, NATO and Combined Task Force 151, a multinational coalition naval force, which have reduced the number of attacks on and seizures of ships. Togo reiterates its support for the relevant Security Council resolutions on the issue of piracy and invites the States of the region to join forces with the international community, not only to hunt down the pirates but also, most important, to cut off their means of support. It is encouraging to note that the United Nations has become very much involved in that fight by cooperating closely with such international organizations as the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In the course of the twenty- seventh session of its biennial Assembly, on 30 November 2011, the IMO adopted a resolution on piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia. By doing so, the IMO renewed the commitment of its members to effectively continue the combat that scourge with a view to eliminating it entirely, while at the same time respecting international law. But it also called upon countries whose ships are flying their flag to adopt precautionary measures to help prevent attacks and to provide security for ships. We feel that it is important to point out that the support provided to the Transitional Federal Government authorities to tackle such criminal acts should not only be focused on material means, but also on capacity-building and judicial assistance in order to make it possible to prosecute the pirates who have been arrested. It is clear that all the sacrifices made by AMISOM’s soldiers, all the hardships experienced by the Somali people and all the material and financial commitments made by the international community will only be rewarded by peace in Somalia if the measures taken by the Security Council are upheld by all States. Violations prevent a swift settlement of the matter, which would only worsen the hardship felt by the Somali population. Togo believes that the countries of the Horn of Africa should overcome their differences and pool their efforts with a view to freeing neighbouring Somalia from the tyranny of interest groups and to allow the subregion as a whole to enjoy peace, security and stability. I would like to conclude by briefly referring to the humanitarian situation, which, although tragic a few weeks ago, has improved gradually thanks to the action taken by humanitarian organizations and to the aid provided by several countries, which Togo welcomes. Protection and support for refugees should continue to be of major concern for the United Nations.

At the outset, let me welcome you, Madam President, and thank you for convening today’s meeting and presiding over it. It is an important meeting that we are having today on Somalia. I would like to join others in thanking Under- Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe and Ambassador Lamamra for their briefings. By the same token, I would like to welcome the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Mr. Moses Wetangula; the Minister of Defence of Uganda, Mr. Crispus Kiyonga; and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov. Let me focus briefly on three points, namely, first, the future posture, composition and support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); secondly, the political state of play and the way forward, especially after the end of the transitional period; and thirdly, very briefly, the relocation of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) to that country, specifically to Mogadishu. First, I would like to reiterate our strong support for AMISOM. The African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Somalia provides an excellent example of an African response to an African crisis and deserves our continued political, strategic and financial support. We took note of the new AU strategic concept for AMISOM operations that was recently shared with us (see S/2012/19, annex). We welcome the continued commitment of the AU and its member States to the Mission, and we commend Uganda and Burundi for contributing troops to the peacekeeping force. We express our sympathy for the losses they have suffered, and we appreciate the arrival in Mogadishu of the first troops from Djibouti. We also took note of the communiqué of the AU Peace and Security Council of 5 January, which endorses the increase of the AMISOM troop level to a strength of up to 17,700, including troops from Djibouti and rehatted Kenyan forces. We are ready to work constructively with other Council members to consider enhancing the support for AMISOM. Let me now turn briefly to my second point — AMISOM’s recent military achievements. The successful training of Somali security forces by the AU training mission in Somalia and their subsequent deployment, and especially the liberation of almost all of Mogadishu and other parts of the country, contrast clearly with the continued lack of political progress. Although the Garowe meeting had positive results and some provisions of the road map have been implemented, we are worried about the considerable delays in other areas and about the renewed infighting among some of Somalia’s political players. We call on the Transitional Federal Institutions to make the best possible use of the remaining months until August in order to move the transition process forward at last. In the interests of the people of Somalia, further progress needs to be made in such core areas as constitutional reform, basic security, political outreach and reconciliation, good governance and institutional reform. At this stage, we believe that another extension of the transitional period is neither in the interests of the Somali people nor of the international community. The Somali people and the international community must now agree on what succeeds the transitional arrangements. The discussion among Somali stakeholders in Garowe in December and the principles agreed there are a first step on that path. We welcome the upcoming London conference to be convoked by the British Government as an opportunity to hold further discussions concerning the immediate future of Somalia. My third point relates to the recent announcement of the Secretary-General to relocate United Nations staff to Somalia and Mogadishu, in particular UNPOS. My delegation has always favoured the swift relocation of United Nations staff from Nairobi. We understand that the process is difficult and involves personnel and administrative challenges. Nevertheless, we are convinced that the move will further help UNPOS to support the Somali people and provide access to the situation on the ground.

Allow me, at the outset, to congratulate you, Madam President, on presiding over the Security Council in this first month of 2012. I would also like to specifically thank Mr. Lynn Pascoe and my colleague and friend Mr. Ramtane Lamamra for their briefings. I also welcome the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and Azerbaijan and the Minister of Defence of Uganda. After two decades of war, Somalia appears now to be seeing signs of progress and hope, although we realize that there is still a long road ahead. In recent months, Somalia has made considerable strides in political terms, including the signing, on 6 December 2011, of the road map and the adoption of the Garowe principles by the Transitional Federal Government in January 2012. There have also been gains on the security front following the strikes against the Al-Shabaab movement in Mogadishu and other regions of Somalia. That was the result of resistance by the Transitional Federal Government and the robust measures taken by neighbouring countries. It was also due to the ongoing support of the international community. However, despite those clearly important achievements, considerable challenges remain to be addressed. In political terms, we note the difficulties with regard to the implementation of the road map and the major delays in implementing several of its provisions. In addition, increasing tensions between the authorities of Puntland and Somaliland as well as other so-called regional authorities could undermine what has been achieved politically to date. On behalf of my country, I should like to commend the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Mahiga, for the successful meeting held in Garoowe, which laid out a specific timetable for ending the transition period. In the months ahead, we will need to work to support the Somali authorities in this critical transition period, and we will need to effectively support the implementation of the road map and the capacity-building process of the Federal Government in Somalia. We will also need to help strengthen initiatives aimed at national reconciliation. In humanitarian terms, and despite the halving of the risk of hunger in certain regions, the situation in certain regions remains very fragile and grave, and millions of Somalis are in a precarious state in humanitarian terms. In that regard, I welcome the serious and outstanding efforts made by the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and non-governmental organizations, which have supported the people of Somalia in dealing with the varied challenges they face in terms of security. Despite the major strides made, the attack in October in Mogadishu by elements of Al-Shabaab and their attempt to retake some Somali cities makes clear that the process is still fragile and that that movement still poses a threat to the safety and security of the region as a whole. Piracy and hostage-taking represent yet another challenge that will need to be addressed with unrelenting determination. In the area of security, in more general terms I should like to thank Djibouti for its decision to deploy troops together with the Burundian and Ugandan troops, who are working under very difficult political and security conditions. That reinforcement comes at the right time, and it could help the Transitional Federal Government to gain greater control of the situation. We believe that the increase in AMISOM’s troop strength to the level of 17,900 will have a major impact on the ground, particularly given the sensitive situation in the country. The international community will need to provide sufficient and necessary support to AMISOM so that it can carry out its mission appropriately. The successes achieved in recent months are the result of enhanced cooperation and coordination between the Somali authorities and various actors and organizations, including the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the neighbouring countries. In that regard, we hope that this cooperation will continue and be strengthened so that it can bolster the sincere will of the Somali authorities to restore security and stability. The people of Somalia have suffered for decades from being forgotten. They are at the point of despair with respect to international solidarity, and the authorities are looking for assistance sufficient to face the challenges, so that the people can have a normal life, under stable conditions, in a sensitive and extremely strategic region. Mr. Osorio (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish) Allow me at the outset, Madam, to welcome you and to congratulate you on your presiding over the Security Council today. I wish also to thank you for having convened this very important debate on an issue that we have been dealing with on a continuing basis owing to its dimensions and implications. Mr. Lynn Pascoe’s report was very detailed and very serious, and we thank him for it. We also express our gratitude for the statements made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, and by the Ministers of Kenya and Uganda, who have made important contributions. In his most recent report on Somalia (S/2011/759), the Secretary-General draws our attention to the fragility of the situation in the country and stresses that we must consolidate the gains made on various fronts. Thus, while keeping in mind the fact that the restoration of security, political stability, the rule of law and economic development are the primary responsibility of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), it is imperative that the international community provide support in the strengthening of State institutions. In terms of security, the work and the presence of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is crucial to the stabilization of Somalia. For that reason, there is an urgent need to ensure that the Mission has at its disposal the resources and equipment necessary to fulfil its mandate and to improve the living conditions of the contingents. In that regard, we welcome the recommendations adopted by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on 5 January last with respect to future AMISOM operations. As many speakers have noted today, those are key elements in the development of a comprehensive strategy in Somalia that would promote coordination between security and political requirements, with a view to stabilizing the situation. The Council has acknowledged the urgent need to ensure predictable, reliable and timely resources to help AMISOM discharge its mandate. The Council must therefore give careful consideration to the request to authorize an increased number of troops for the Mission as well as to other recommendations contained in the African Union communiqué. As forces authorized by the Council are being deployed, they must also have the resources and equipment necessary to fulfil their mandate in Mogadishu and beyond. In order to consolidate the security and military gains achieved, we must provide greater technical and financial resources as well as training to the TFG forces so that they are able to ensure the security of the population. It is also crucial that there be a chain of command within the militias associated with the TFG and that they be truly subordinated to the TFG authorities. We cannot fail to recall that the humanitarian situation remains very serious and that the fragility of the situation requires sustained, coordinated efforts on the part of the Organization and the international community. We must ensure that emergency assistance is increasingly linked to the establishment of conditions conducive to ensuring food security and long-term means of survival, so as to contribute to the development of sustainable structures following the crisis and to avert future emergencies. In conclusion, I should like to acknowledge once again the significant contribution made by the African Union in the quest for peace in Somalia and to urge all of the relevant players to continue to participate constructively and comply with their obligations in the implementation of the road map so as to make it possible to comply with the timelines set in the context of the finalization of the transition period by August 2012.

Allow me to welcome you, Madam, as President of the Security Council at today’s meeting. We are grateful to Under-Secretary-General Pascoe and Mr. Lamamra, Commissioner for the Peace and Security of the African Union, for their briefings on the situation in Somalia. We listened carefully to the statements of Mr. Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Mr. Kiyonga, Minister of Defence of Uganda, and Mr. Mammadyarov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The year that is beginning should be critical in the history of Somalia, both in terms of moving the peace process forward and of nation-building. The implementation of the road map and dealing with Al-Shabaab should be coordinated and dynamic. That requires the robust political will of Somalis and the due support of the international community. Next, we need to strengthen those positive trends. In that context, we welcome the holding of the national consultative conference on the future constitution. Against that backdrop, unfortunately, there have been tensions over the attempt to oust the speaker of the Parliament. That kind of incident could impede the unifying of political forces at the current critically important stage. The criteria for consolidating the Transitional Federal Institutions would be the timely completion of the transitional period and laying the basis for the further development of the country. Success in tackling Al-Shabaab is a necessary precondition for advancing the political process. Despite the clear military progress in southern and central Somalia, the recent clashes in Mogadishu show that Al-Shabaab’s military capacity still exists. Efforts need to be stepped up in that area. We welcome the agreement by the African Union on steps to extend the mandate, to strengthen the military capacity and to work out the concept of future operations of the African Union Mission in Somalia. We welcome the readiness of Djibouti and Kenya to provide troops to the African Union Mission, which continue to be a key factor in solving the Somali crisis. Such steps are in line with the work of the international community and the African Union towards normalizing the situation in Somalia, including tackling extremism and piracy. Russia will continue to support the African Union in its efforts to normalize the situation in Somalia. Our position is that military measures can be used only to complement the political process. That therefore continues to be a challenge, primarily for Somalis themselves.

I now give the floor to the representative of Burundi.

The Burundi Government will never tire of expressing its gratitude to the Security Council and the international community for the multiform support that they gave to our people during critical moments of the fratricidal war. Indeed, without their invaluable assistance, we simply would not have been able to put our country back on the rails of peace and security. The Burundi people therefore understand better than many the meaning of peace and security. For the Government of Burundi, there is no other way to show our thankfulness than by sending our troops wherever there is a threat to peace and security on this planet. The Burundi Government also wants to thank the African Union Commission for the wise and constructive guidance to our countries. While we watched the whole world standing up to fight piracy in the international waters along the coastal part of the Horn of Africa, the Somali unrest has somehow been perceived, for quite some time, as a Burundian and a Ugandan issue. However, the recent visit of the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General to Somalia was a political message, sent not only to the region but also to the whole world, that peace in Somalia is a concern of the international community. We therefore commend the initiative of other regional countries to get on board and join our forces in combating the rule of a dangerous fundamentalism. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is not a peacekeeping mission. A peacekeeping mission is normally deployed upon agreement between belligerents. Instead, AMISOM is a target. It is considered by some Somalis as an occupation force. Today, as in the past, a military commitment in Mogadishu has never been a recreational tour. It is therefore not a secret if I say that Burundi has paid dearly in terms of human sacrifice. That situation triggered some internal fears and, as part of a democracy, some political activists tried to politically exploit the sad Burundian ongoing experience in Somalia. But let me say it again — for the Burundi Government, nothing will be strong enough to divert or dilute our dedication to peace and stability, not only in Somalia but also wherever our contribution is needed. The challenging situation in Somalia requires more in terms of troops, logistics and, most important, dedication. The Burundi Government supports the expansion of AMISON, and remains flexible as to the decisions of the African Union and the Security Council. In conclusion, I would like to thank all for paying tribute to Burundi for its effort and commitment in Somalia.

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.