S/PV.7054 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 the presence at the Council table of Her Excellency Ms. Fowsiyo Yusuf Haji Adan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia. 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/2013/623, which contains the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 2077 (2012). I also wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2013/606, which contains a letter dated 14 October 2013 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council. I welcome the Deputy-Secretary General, His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, and I give him the floor.

I am honoured to address the Council today on Somalia. This is an important briefing for me. I have a long relationship to Somalia. Twenty-one years ago, I visited the country as the United Nations first Emergency Relief Coordinator. I still have vivid, painful memories of the massive suffering at that time — the worst I have ever seen, I should add. For decades, it was difficult to see how Somalia could lift itself out of conflict and misery. Last weekend, I was finally able to visit Mogadishu again. The difference from 1992 was remarkable. I saw hope and I saw determination. I saw shops and cafés, fishermen and traffic police, taxis and building sites. I saw what everyone in the Council has heard about during the past year — the beginning of a new Somalia. I held extensive, open and highly interesting meetings with Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, the Foreign Minister and practically all other members of the Government. I also met with African Union and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) representatives, security officials, the diplomatic community, civil society and our dedicated United Nations team. During the meetings, we spoke much about national reconciliation. My interlocutors highlighted the need to establish a culture of dialogue and a new approach to regional engagement. The Government reiterated its commitment to federalism and power-sharing between the centre and the periphery. I urged the President to continue his efforts at political outreach and to take forward inclusive dialogue on the future form of federalism in the country. The United Nations plans to establish a greater presence in the regions and to reinforce the links between the regions and the federal Government. I stressed the importance of building institutions, the rule of law and respect for human rights. We agreed that a United Nations team would travel to Somalia next month to advise on the support required to prepare for national elections in 2016. We also spoke about the need for peacebuilding and State-building. I congratulated the Government on the conclusion of the “new deal” for Somalia framework, which sets out Somalia’s priorities. The United Nations will align its efforts fully to support those goals. Together with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, I visited the new United Nations offices nearing completion in Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, where United Nations and Somali Government staff will, appropriately, work side by side. The African Union Mission in Somalia has done much to enable Somalia to reach the current moment of opportunity. Let me express my deep appreciation for the work that AMISOM forces have done, of the sacrifices they have made, and of the unique partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in Somalia. I would also like to recognize the substantial support provided by the European Union to AMISOM. Let me also express my great respect for the many representatives of the international community and civil society now working in Mogadishu and for our United Nations staff, of whom over 100 internationals are now working in Mogadishu under the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, as we prepare to establish an integrated mission in January. I came away heartened by the commitment of Somalia’s Government and people and their international partners to peace and unity, as well as to development and human rights. But I also found reasons for concern. As the Secretary-General has informed the Council in the letter before the Council today (S/2013/606), and as I have heard from many of my colleagues on the ground, this moment of hope in Somalia is fragile. High expectations are directed at the United Nations, the African Union and AMISOM. The findings of the African Union-United Nations mission on security are clear. After 18 months of successful operations that uprooted Al-Shabaab from major cities, the campaign by AMISOM and Somali forces has in recent months ground to a halt. The AMISOM Force Commander told me that neither AMISOM nor the Somali army has the capacity to push beyond areas already recovered. Their hold on the existing territory would be tenuous if the current status quo were to continue, he claimed. While these forces remain largely static, Al-Shabaab is mobile. Al-Shabaab is training and recruiting substantial numbers of frustrated, unemployed young men. There has been a surge in deadly attacks. Although weakened, the insurgency is still able to conduct terror operations, not only in its areas of control but in Mogadishu, Kismaayo and elsewhere, as we saw in last month’s horrific attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. It is the joint recommendation of the Secretary-General and the African Union that AMISOM and Somali forces need a significant temporary boost to maintain the basic security required for peacebuilding, as well as to respond to the evolving threat from Al-Shabaab. The letter of the Secretary-General of 14 October provides the details of those proposals. The recommended enhancements for AMISOM, including helicopters and other enablers, will allow the force to regain the initiative against the insurgency and to recover strategic locations that are exploited by Al-Shabaab to generate revenue and to recruit and train combatants. The recommendations for non-lethal and logistic support to the Somali National Security Forces are equally critical. It includes medical support, transport, tents, food and fuel, and would enable the Somalis to operate effectively alongside AMISOM, improving their capacity to hold cleared areas until the Somali national police can take over, with AMISOM police support. It is of significant long-term importance. Council Members will recall that we have previously provided assistance along similar lines to national forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, under the guidance of a human rights due diligence policy. In fact, the Council took a decision recently on the Central African Republic, I understand. The Government of Somalia conceded that, without support to the Somali National Security Forces, no significant progress should be expected. Against that background, I urge the Security Council to find ways to adequately provide for that support. It would also facilitate the crucially important recovery and development efforts of the United Nations and other actors on the ground. It is hard to ask for additional resources in our present difficult financial environment, but it is my duty to advise the Council that, without increased support, our present and, indeed, past investment in peace and that of millions of Somalis may be lost. Success in Somalia has been achieved through a unique brand of multilateralism. The United Nations, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the European Union have combined together in a creative, responsible and effective way. If we do not reinforce the progress with additional resources and presence on the ground, we risk a setback for a great example of multilateralism, as well as exposing the Somali people to aggravated violence and poverty. I would now like to draw the Council’s attention to the Secretary-General’s advice with regard to the safety of United Nations staff in Somalia. In Mogadishu I met with United Nations colleagues working with great dedication in conditions of high risk. The surge in attacks and threats in recent months places them under great pressure. At the same time, that surge is a serious obstacle to the implementation of resolutions 2093 (2013) and 2102 (2013), which mandated the Secretary- General to establish an enhanced United Nations presence in Somalia. It also risks setting back our vital work for recovery and development on the ground in the country. Following the attack on 19 June, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes have a severely restricted capacity to plan and deliver programmes. I visited the site of the attack in Mogadishu in order to pay my respects to the victims and to personally thank the courageous United Nations staff who protected our colleagues that day. It was a sombre moment, and it made me and my colleagues feel all the more determined not to let extremists set the agenda and, by instilling fear, stop our efforts to help the Somali people. The security of the United Nations in Mogadishu and Somalia requires urgent attention. We owe our staff secure accommodation and the protected mobility required to do their work. With AMISOM’s present assets and with competing priorities, it is not realistic to substantially step up the protection of United Nations installations and operations, as those are to expand. I therefore ask the Council to authorize the deployment of a United Nations guard unit to protect United Nations locations until national forces can assume their responsibility. At the same time, we need to invest in measures that can increase the Somali Federal Government’s capacity to protect international operations for the long term. That is why we recommend supporting Somali police units to provide mobile security for the United Nations as part of security-sector development under the new deal framework. I urge the Council to support those recommendations. It is essential that security efforts proceed hand in hand with the political, peacebuilding and developmental efforts. Security, reconciliation and development must proceed in parallel in order to take root and mutually reinforce each other. That is reflected in the benchmarks that the Secretary-General has set for the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation. They cover advances in the campaign against Al-Shabaab, the development of capacity for the Somali national army and national police and progress on reconciliation, as well as work on the constitution and preparations for elections in 2016. Those are the key steps for progress for the Somalis and for the international community’s investment in Somalia between now and 2016. The United Nations will continue to work closely with the Government and international partners to help create those conditions. That requires an integrated strategy that combines political engagement and support for peacebuilding, the rule of law and development. Should the Council so decide, the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation could then mark an exit strategy for the current operations, and a milestone in our work for peace in Somalia. Let me now turn briefly to the report of the Secretary-General on piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia (S/2013/623). The report is a timely reminder of how effective security instruments can be in fighting destabilizing forces. The number of piracy incidents has decreased considerably. At the same time, the report highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy to sustain security gains. More work is required to address the underlying causes of piracy in Somalia. As the Secretary-General notes in his report, the security, development and governance factors have not changed sufficiently to deter criminals from attacking ships and holding seafarers hostage. We must remain vigilant. The international naval presence remains vital for conducting counter-piracy operations pursuant to resolution 2077 (2013), as does Member States’ commitment to prosecute suspected pirates. I also call on Member States to expand efforts to develop Somalia’s maritime resource and security strategy. That is the anchor for improving the governance of Somalia’s maritime resources and expanding economic opportunities for its citizens. The report underscores the importance of coordinated international action and of the self- protection measures developed by the shipping industry. I commend the work of the Contact Group on Piracy in fostering cooperation, sharing information and mobilizing resources. Looking ahead, the policy and legal issues governing the deployment of contracted armed security personnel on board vessels will require continued close attention. Let us not forget that Somali pirates are presently holding hostage 60 seafarers. That is a matter of serious international concern. We must continue to insist that all hostages be released immediately. In the long term, our shared goal is for Somalia to assume full responsibility for its own security, within the framework of the rule of law. The Council has requested Somali authorities to report on the structure of its security forces and on the measures to ensure the safe management and accountability for weapons and military equipment, under the terms of resolution 2093 (2013). I understand that a report on that matter is expected to reach the Council shortly. I urge the Federal Government to expedite its submission. In conclusion, the Government and the people of Somalia, as well as international partners, are on the verge of rebuilding a shattered State and rescuing millions of people from conflict and poverty. The international community’s commitment to Somalia is reflected in the $2.4 billion pledged in Brussels in September under the new deal. But without a sufficient level of security, what we have worked so hard for could be lost. The attack in June on the United Nations in Mogadishu and the terrorist act in Nairobi in September underline Al-Shabaab’s intent to force an international retreat from Somalia and to inflict suffering on Somalis in order to erode their confidence in the peace process — and, indeed, in the future. That is why we must support AMISOM and at the same time invest in Somali national forces as well as in protecting our staff. I appeal for the Council’s positive consideration of those recommendations.

I thank Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

I am sincerely delighted to be here again today to share my perspective on the key challenges and opportunities in Somalia. As the Council deliberates on the conclusions of the joint United Nations-African Union review and the subsequent letter from the Secretary-General dated 14 October 2013 (S/2013/606), I again appeal for the Council’s support, as I truly believe that there are immense opportunities in Somalia as our State emerges from a fragile political transition and its new Government asserts itself. As the Deputy Secretary-General has said today, Somalia is changing. I thank him for the time he took from his busy schedule to see the reality on the ground in Somalia. We are much obliged to the Council and the United Nations for sustaining international attention and focus on the plight of the Somali people. I wholeheartedly thank you, Mr. President, and the members of the Council for their personal engagement in supporting Somalia. We have no doubt that our collective desire for peace and a stronger Somalia will prevail. The Council’s commitment and sustained partnership in support of critical priorities in Somalia is at a turning point, with a view to advancing global peace and security. Significant progress has been achieved in Somalia, and the Somali Government and its people are determined to further strengthen cooperation with our friends and with the rest of global society. Somalia is still vulnerable to domestic and external threats as it builds its power to assert its authority and seeks to strengthen the rule of law. In that context, the Somali State has made significant progress within the past year. The election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has given the Somali people hope and a sense of optimism. The Somali Government is therefore guided by three principles, namely, building national democratic Government institutions with development priorities that are fair, inclusive and sensitive to the diverse interests of the country; fostering national unity based on the principles of individual human rights, equality and justice; and strengthening our partnerships with all global actors on the basis of mutual interest, respect and cooperation. In the current international system under the founding principles of the United Nations, functioning and legitimate States are indispensable to international security, trade and political relations. Somalia is no longer a failed State. Many Somalis have returned to the country to invest in it and rebuild it. In addition, because of our partnership with the global community and its steadfast support, together we have pushed Al-Shabaab out of Mogadishu and other major cities and towns. Many embassies and international organizations have opened up their offices in Somalia. And, as the Deputy-Secretary-General said today, the United Nations has reopened its office in Mogadishu. Roads have been rehabilitated and the provision of services has been gradually revived. Democratic rule in Somalia is slowly but surely taking root. Following the success of the landmark London Somalia Conference in May 2012, a “new deal” conference for Somalia, co-hosted by the Somali Federal Government and the European Union, was held in Brussels on 16 September 2013, with the participation of many friendly Governments, international organizations and partners. The Conference endorsed a new deal compact for Somalia that establishes measurable goals for Somalia’s reconstruction and requires specific commitments for implementation from the Somali Government and its international partners. That arrangement provides a more resilient design for joint partnership between the Somali people and the international community. Our Government has moved swiftly to ensure the successful implementation of the compact and has established a national security council chaired by President Mohamud. We understand that sustainable security in Somalia depends on the development of a robust Somali security sector that includes the involvement of the people as an active component of reconstruction. Our Government realizes that its citizens are not ciphers but active participants. They must be convinced that their security and development, and the Government’s ability to provide both, exist in a reciprocal relationship that must become ever more resilient. Furthermore, we would like to note that Al-Shabaab’s recruitment strategy targets urban centres and impoverished areas. By including the participation of citizens, the seams of weakness in Al-Shabaab’s organizational structures and its asymmetrical advantage will be uncovered and countervailed. That requires improving the capacity of the security forces, strengthening the rule of law and developing an effective judicial system. We cannot expect peace in Somalia if peace is not owned by its citizens. We are grateful to the Security Council for partially lifting the 20-year old arms embargo, so as to allow the Somali defence forces, supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to fight Al-Shabaab. Achieving that goal remains a top priority for Somalia. We have been improving the necessary mechanism for the successful accomplishment of that objective. When our President joined his fellow African leaders earlier this month in Addis Abeba, he sent a powerful message to the world that demonstrated continental unity against extremism. Somalia is cognizant of the high cost involved in providing new funding for the logistical supplies that our troops critically need. We also understand the logic and the thinking that may make some Member States of the Security Council feel a bit reluctant about starting a new chapter that may reverse the regular and traditional funding system package. We urge those countries to see things differently because, in the face of the scourge of Al-Shabaab/Al-Qaida and their tactics of asymmetrical warfare aimed at maximizing their mayhem, the status quo is not an option. Hence, we also seek to provide the Somali national army the timely logistical support it requires to enhance its capacity and ultimately to defeat Al-Shabaab. The Somali Government wishes to remind everyone that AMISOM’s decision, on 10 April, to suspend operations due to severe logistical limitations — also understandable  — has provided Al-Shabaab with the breathing room to regroup and take the offensive. I wish to encourage and urge the members of the Security Council to act swiftly so that Al-Shabaab is not provided further opportunities to regroup and infiltrate urban centres and export their evil ideology. However, it is no secret that we all risk the danger that Al-Shabaab will be reinvigorated by the lack of sustained military engagement. That group continues to be a global threat, as evidenced by the recent attacks on our brothers and sisters in Kenya. That shows that the gains made so far in Somalia can quickly unravel if we continue with business as usual. The international operational support to Somalia should be enhanced given the unique current conditions and the opportunities that exist. The Somali people know full well that local leadership is critical in defeating terrorism. According to the letter of the Secretary-General, peace consolidation requires that we improve the capacity and effectiveness of the Somali army. That, in turn, requires the use of “smart” power in both the short and long term, with a training and capacity programme that has components to improve both commissioned and non-commissioned officer sectors. AMISOM and the United Nations are convinced that the Somali national army has the capability and the determination to secure major cities and key infrastructure; what they require is increased basic logical support. Again, that requires an inclusive approach that develops the eyes and ears of the public as a component of the public space in the campaign against Al-Shabaab. Citizens are the foundation of any intelligence network and are both essential and necessary for leveraging resources. The overarching strategy for the provision of security after war may be conceptualized in the phrase “welcome, build and defend”. The ultimate strategic objectives of the current peace enforcement operation in Somalia are to recover areas occupied by Al-Shabaab, restore and secure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, support the Federal Government of Somalia in its struggle to disrupt, degrade, weaken and defeat Al-Shabaab by providing tangible and effective logistical support to Somalia that will sustain the military operation on the ground to enable them to expand, stabilize and control recovered areas and deny Al-Shabaab any possibility of a relapse into insecurity. A further goal is to provide AMISOM the enablers and multipliers in needs in terms of troop increases, military hardware and resources that will allow them to significantly expand into new areas of cooperation and recover the entire territory of Somalia. It is critical for the Federal Republic of Somalia and the international community to close the serious gap between the support given to AMISOM and the tempo and scale of operations, so that we do not allow the terrorists to use that gap to regroup, give the enemy a free hand, recruit and intensify their infiltration into urban centres and strengthen their ability to destabilize the region. At the same time, we need to enhance the capacity of the Somali national army forces and public safety and law enforcement institutions, as well as to support the establishment of effective governance, to enable us to conduct a general election in 2016. Therefore, to make the presence of the Federal Government of Somalia felt in the recovered areas, it is the plan and firm intention of the Somali Government to immediately establish stability, peace and security, as well as the provision of services. Providing non-lethal and logistical support to the Somali forces, as proposed by the Secretary-General, will surely guarantee short- term capacity and long-term resiliency for the Somali forces. We believe that this new approach should be adopted, and I request the Security Council today to give our Somali National Army that support by authorizing the provision of extensive non-lethal and logistical support. By supporting that vision, Al-Shabaab/Al-Qaida will be defeated, and as the Somali security forces regain control of the country, the combat role of the AMISOM forces can be reduced. In conclusion, Somali troops are engaged in active war against Al-Shabaab and in peace development across the nation. Logistical support at the unit level must be available in order to initiate sustainable military and civilian operations. That logistical support is needed immediately and thus should not be tied to the timelines of troop increases and/or development. Let me conclude by thanking the President and Council members again for their tireless efforts in supporting the Somali nation.

Since this is our last scheduled meeting for the month, I would like to express the sincere appreciation of the delegation of Azerbaijan to the members of the Council, especially my colleagues the Permanent Representatives, their respective staffs and the secretariat of the Council for all the support they have given to us. As we have said, it has been a busy month. We could not have done it alone or without the hard work, support and positive contributions of every delegation and the representatives of the Secretariat, as well as the other professionals who ably provide all of the various meetings services required by the Council throughout the month. As we end our presidency, I know I speak on behalf of the Council in wishing the delegation of China good luck in the month of November. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion of the subject.