S/PV.6921 Security Council

Under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Somalia to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome Her Excellency Ms. Fowsiyo Yusuf Haji Adan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia. Under rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2013/69, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on Somalia. I now give the floor to Mr. Zerihoun. Mr. Zerihoun: I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on recent developments in Somalia and on the next stage of the United Nations engagement in the country. In the weeks since the finalization of the Secretary- General’s report of 31 January 2013 (S/2013/69), the Federal Government of Somalia has continued implementing its six-pillar policy for stabilization and peacebuilding in the country. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reached out to Somalia’s international partners, with high-profile visits including to the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, which have raised hopes for enhanced international assistance on the basis of a new compact to be developed over the course of this year. The United Nations has continued high-level dialogue with the new authorities in Somalia on their emerging plans. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, met with President Mohamud in Addis Ababa during the recent African Union summit and visited Mogadishu on 30 January. He discussed with the Prime Minister of Somalia and other leaders their priorities for the coming year, particularly in the areas of security, judicial reform and public financial management. We hope to continue to work together to develop ways to support Somalia in these key areas. The success achieved by the Government internationally is matched by daunting challenges at home. The growing expanse of territory liberated from Al-Shabaab has created an opportunity for the federal Government to extend its control over the country and enhance its legitimacy among Somalis. The Government is working to fill the vacuum through an inclusive bottom-up approach, but the process is naturally contentious. In Kismaayo, the self-styled Governor, Sheikh Madobe, has yet to meet with President Mohamud, despite promises to do so. Meanwhile, in Baidoa tensions are escalating following the appointment of a new interim Governor by the Government on 6 February. It is important that progress be made quickly to build accepted administrations in the liberated areas and that the complex political process be accompanied by other critical stabilization deliverables — notably security, law and order, and basic service delivery — without which long-term peace and development will be difficult to attain. In this regard, the commitment of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) on 23 January to support and ensure complementarity with the approach of the federal Government of Somalia, as well as the Government’s pledge to present its detailed stabilization plan to IGAD, are welcome developments. Despite several attacks by Al-Shabaab, there is now a tangible sense of security and optimism in Mogadishu. Across the country, AMISOM is now deployed at full mandated strength and has been effective in degrading Al-Shabaab’s operational capability. However, A1-Shabaab is not yet defeated, and its presence continues to hamper the freedom of movement of Somalis and those who would assist them. The lack of sustainable and predictable funding for AMISOM remains a concern. The international community continues to recognize the sacrifices being made by the Somali forces, AMISOM and other partners, and strongly supports the appeals of the African Union (AU) for resources and additional capabilities to continue efforts against the insurgency. Meanwhile, Council members are aware of the request of the Somali Government for a relaxation of the arms embargo to facilitate the development of the Somalia security sector. The Secretary-General suggests in his report that it would be important to take a calibrated approach based on all the factors at play, including the pressing need to support the development of the Somali forces while avoiding the proliferation of uncontrolled weapons that could exacerbate the security situation. We understand that the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group is ready to provide technical advice in the development of options in this regard. The development of the security sector in Somalia must also be coupled with enhanced support for the judiciary and respect for human rights. The Secretary- General is particularly concerned by the ongoing threat to journalists working in Somalia and by the number of reported incidents of sexual violence. The case of an alleged rape victim and a Somali journalist sentenced to imprisonment on 5 February underscores the considerable investment needed to develop a national framework that promotes international human rights norms. This period of transformation, with its opportunities and challenges, requires a step change in the United Nations support to peacebuilding in Somalia. In his report before the Council, the Secretary-General has recommended a substantial realignment of the United Nations presence in Somalia. The recommendations are based on an integrated strategic assessment conducted late last year, in which the Secretariat listened extensively to the Somali authorities across the country, to civil society organizations and to international partners in Somalia and in Nairobi. Extensive consultations were also held with the African Union. The findings of the review emphasize that United Nations support to Somalia must now be based on a new partnership, with the Somalis in the lead and the United Nations working with side by side with them, not remotely from Nairobi. That is why United Nations entities will be steadily relocating to Somalia over the next 6 to 12 months. The United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) has played a critical role in supporting the Somalis to deliver the transition. The political successes of last year were delivered in part through the hard work of UNPOS, and especially the tireless efforts of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Augustine Mahiga. But UNPOS is not configured to provide the support required by a new Government seeking to consolidate its authority across the country. That will require a new mission with the political and technical expertise, resources and configuration to support the Government and people of Somalia. The Secretary- General therefore recommends to the Security Council the liquidation of UNPOS and the establishment of a broader peacebuilding mission based in Mogadishu. The envisaged tasks of the new mission include good offices, advice and assistance on security, peacebuilding and State-building, the preparation of elections, human rights and the rule of law, and assistance to the coordination of international assistance. The United Nations will bring unique expertise to assist in these areas. At the same time, there is need for innovative approaches to tackle the particular challenges of operating in Somalia, and to tailor our efforts to the Government’s requirements. For this reason, and further to the guidance of the Council, the Secretary-General intends to deploy a technical design mission to develop detailed plans for the future United Nations presence in Somalia. He will report on the findings in his next report to the Security Council in May this year. We appreciate the advice of Member States and other international partners on the types of structural models to pursue with respect to the new United Nations presence in Somalia. The Secretary-General’s recommendation for a United Nations assistance mission — which is option C in his report — reflects the best current option for the Organization to simultaneously provide enhanced support to peacebuilding and to meet other development and humanitarian objectives. The option recognizes the importance of maintaining the high level of support provided by the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM to the African Union Mission in Somalia, while strengthening the strategic coherence of the Mission, and tactical planning and cooperation with United Nations agencies and the African Union. The Secretary-General remains committed to full structural integration as soon as conditions allow, and to keeping the option of a United Nations peacekeeping operation under review for the future. In view of the dynamic situation in Somalia, the Secretary-General intends to revisit the issue of structural integration next year. The partnership between the African Union and United Nations in Somalia has been one of the success stories in our relationship. We remain committed to working with our African Union colleagues over the coming months to ensure that our approaches are coherent, supportive of each other and, most important, provide the best support to the Somali Government and people. The United Nations and African Union have each conducted their own reviews of their respective efforts and engagement in Somalia, and our substantive conclusions are similar. At the meeting of the AU-United Nations Joint Task Force, held in the margins of the recent AU Summit in Addis Ababa, we agreed to pursue a joint position on the outcome of our respective reviews, as well as the next steps for our future cooperation. We will keep the Security Council informed of these efforts and their outcome. Only the people of Somalia can realize the transformation that we all hope for in their country, but the United Nations can have a significant supporting role to play. We look forward to receiving the guidance of the Security Council on the future United Nations presence and engagement in Somalia.

I thank Mr. Zerihoun for his briefing. I now give the floor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia.

I wish to thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to address this Council and to share with you current events shaping the destiny of Somalia. Allow me also to congratulate you on assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. First and foremost, the Somali people, for the first time in more than two decades, are speaking of new hopes, optimism, confidence and strong faith in the new developments in our homeland. It is my ardent wish and hope that my Government will prove the Somali people right in their aspirations. Let me say a few words about the current situation in Somalia. The rise of a new dawn in Somalia started with the successful end of the transition and the laying of the foundations for credible and viable governance structures. Today, we have a fully functioning and lean Government, with a robust and lively legislature. The well-known conflict and acrimony among Somali leaders is something of the past and a cooperative atmosphere prevails. At the very outset beginning, my Government adopted a six-pillar policy framework based on our collective vision for the way forward. This vision is a strategy for dealing with such urgent issues as security and peacebuilding, law and good governance reform, economic recovery and public finance management reform, good and targeted service delivery, the restructuring of international relations, and safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. The Somali Government has adopted several initiatives and programmes based on these pillars. In the security sector, for example, Government troops, in collaboration with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), have succeeded in regaining control of areas previously held by Al-Shabaab. Today, Al-Shabaab is weakened and its leadership is in disarray and on the run. We are committed to continuing the fight against this scourge until the final victory is achieved. We are in the process of establishing local administrations in the newly recovered areas of South and Central Somalia. This is based on a bottom- up approach — in other words, the empowerment of local communities to select their own leaders and the Somali Government as the sole legitimate facilitator, as prescribed in the Constitution. This will promote respect for Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence; the legitimacy of the federal Government of the Somali Republic; and respect for the wishes of the local populations in those areas. The Somali Government has also initiated much- needed steps in establishing a credible, transparent and accountable public finance system. The collection of taxes as a major source of Government income is a priority in this regard. We are also working on a programme for the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees in neighbouring countries, as well as the resettlement of internally displaced persons in their areas of original residence. Despite the progress made in different areas and the multiple tasks ahead, serious challenges remain. We have no illusions about this. Getting rid of the remnants of the Al-Shabaab is a top priority for us. That, however, will require strengthening the military capacity of the Somali defence forces by way of training, providing enablers in a timely manner, and further restructuring command and control structures. Consolidating peace in the recovered areas in southern Somalia and securing the necessary military and financial resources in a timely manner is another priority. The lifting of the arms embargo is a prerequisite for attaining this goal. The Somali Government reiterates its request for the arms embargo to be lifted. The Somali Government will put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure that armaments do not fall into the wrong hands. We have started strengthening the capacity of State institutions by way of structural adjustments and changes. Yet, further action is required, and this is where the United Nations can step in by providing the physical presence of the specialized agencies on the ground in Somalia and teaming up with line ministries. These and other programmes cannot succeed unless there is the blessing, the political will and the long- term commitment of the international community to stepping up to the plate and partnering with the new Somalia, through the Somali Government, in providing the necessary technical and financial resources. My Government is pleased to report the continued commitment of and the enormous sacrifices made by the Somali National Security Forces, AMISOM, the Ethiopian National Defence Forces and their international partners for the successful consummation of the transitional road map, and urges greater support to be provided in this regard. Security is a prerequisite for political, economic and social stabilization and recovery. The gains made by AMISOM and our national armed forces against Al-Shabaab over the past year are impressive, and I wish again to thank the nations that contributed their forces to this courageous endeavour. The support provided by the United Nations to AMISOM has to be acknowledged. We would like to stress again the importance for our forces to be better trained, equipped and structured. The Council’s support is required, not least in lifting the arms embargo to allow the Somali national armed forces to assume full responsibility for our own security. In this context, however, we would like to voice and reiterate our strong opposition to the authorization of a maritime force for AMISOM. We discussed our concerns during the recent African Union (AU) strategic review; our point was understood, and that particular element has been removed from the final report to the AU Peace and Security Council. The naval capability of our forces must be the priority. There is no compelling reason to take the campaign against Al-Shabaab to sea. Piracy, human trafficking and smuggling are important challenges, but they are not linked to the mandate of AMISOM. This is our task, which needs the Council’s support. With reference to paragraph 51 of the report, dated 17 September 2011, of the eleventh Ordinary Council of Ministers of Defence and Security of the Eastern African Region, held in Seychelles, the Council Ministers of Defence and Security discussed the issue of a maritime component for AMISOM, and Somalia clearly stated its position that it does not need such a component. In view of this, the Council of Ministers of Defence and Security unanimously agreed to Somalia’s objection to a maritime component for AMSIOM. A copy of this report, signed by all members, is available for easy reference in this Chamber. Significant progress has been made against piracy, and we thank the international community for the well- coordinated and robust operations that have almost defeted this negative industry. The gains need urgently to be supplemented with programmes aiming at the young people in those communities. This is closely linked to the reintegration of disengaged combatants and youth at risk throughout the country. We will need to urgently invest in our youth in order not to lose the dividend of the military and anti-piracy campaigns. We also urge the esteemed Council to remove paragraph 38 of the Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council (S/2013/69) regarding the implementation of the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. The Somali Government sees this particular matter as applying only to our national forces. The humanitarian situation remains critical for hundreds of thousands of our people. Many are at risk; a million of our citizens remain displaced within the country, and many more have sought refuge elsewhere. We urge the international community to further generously contribute through the United Nations consolidated appeal or other means in order to alleviate the suffering. The drought and the conflict have disrupted the ability of our people to cope. So many lives have been saved by the United Nations and the many humanitarian agencies and friends of Somalia. Let us build on this success and invest in the capacity of our people to take care of themselves. We are strong people and should not be dependent on aid. The human rights situation needs further urgent attention. We are aware of the shortcomings and the prevailing abuses. Our Government is committed to moving decisively to ensure that access to basic human rights is guaranteed and that the culture of violence, particularly against women and journalists, is brought to an end. I would like to reaffirm our support for resolution 2036 (2012) banning the trade in and export of charcoal, and ask the Council to decide to punish the violators of the ban. Today, and on behalf of the Somali people and the federal Government of the Somali Republic, I stand before the Council to state that the Somali people and Government seek a permanent partnership with the United Nations, its Member States and the entire United Nations family — a partnership for peace, good governance, and socioeconomic, political and cultural cooperation — in a manner that suits both of us, from this moment until the time when we are fully able to stand on our own feet. This underscores the need for a paradigm shift in the manner in which the international community engaged with the former transitional Somali administration. Let me again thank the United Nations for its long- standing support for Somalia. We would have been nowhere without the persistence of the United Nations system, its agencies and their staff. The gradual return of the United Nations system to Mogadishu has begun over the past year. The regular presence of more and more senior staff has made a difference. We understand the difficulties of such a relocation in a security situation that remains difficult but has now become manageable. I would like to encourage the United Nations and our friends to move decisively to come back. In line with common practice, we will support the United Nations and its Member States by providing security, land, facilities and immunities, as required. United Nations offices and embassies must be relocated to Mogadishu. At this point, I would like to reiterate our strong position that there must be an integrated United Nations mission, which would help the system to deliver and speak as one. We believe that the advantages of having a unified structure outweigh by far the concerns of those seeking to maintain the status quo in order to disassociate themselves from the political and military components of the international effort. Integration would facilitate a coherent approach to peacebuilding, stabilization and support for institutions, which is the strength of the United Nations system. We accept that the integration of the military component can be gradual and begin as soon as the active military campaign is over — which we hope will happen in the months to come. I believe that this is in line with the discussions we held with both the United Nations and the AU strategic review teams. We need clear and lean structures with which we can engage, cooperate and partner. A United Nations presence with a unified structure will be stronger and more efficient and deliver with more vigour. We sincerely hope that our voice is listened to. The President has made this point in his travels to the region and when visiting the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union and in meetings with their leaders. He has shared his views in writing with the Secretary-General, with whom he also discussed the matter during his recent visit to Addis Abeba. Furthermore, during the forty-sixth Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), held in Addis Ababa on 23 January, it was agreed that IGAD’s grand stabilization plan was to be integrated into the six-pillar policy framework of the Somali Government in the next six weeks. To conclude, I would like to extend an invitation to Security Council members to visit Somalia in the near future to witness the dramatic changes and opportunities.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.