S/PV.8939 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Somalia to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2021/1076, the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2614 (2021). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

The United States voted in favour of a three-month rollover of the 2021 mandate for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to provide additional time for an agreement on a reconfigured African Union-led mission in Somalia. AMISOM has played a vital role in addressing the Al-Shabaab threat and supporting security in Somalia, but delays in planning for a post-2021 mission puts future progress at risk. We therefore urge the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union and their international friends to take advantage of this time to reach agreement consistent with resolution 2568 (2021) on the strategic objectives, duration, size, composition and financing for a reconfigured mission capable of addressing the evolving Al-Shabaab threat and enabling and building the capacity of Somalia security forces to take over security responsibilities. Given the urgency of these tasks, the United States urges all parties to reach agreement before the end of February 2022, to allow for adoption of a new mandate by 31 March 2022. In conclusion, the United States would like to thank the penholder, the United Kingdom, for its diligence and its collaboration in shepherding this resolution.

France voted in favour of resolution 2614 (2021). It nevertheless wishes to make the following observations. France welcomes the constructive approach adopted by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union in its communiqué of 7 December. We welcome the fact that this communiqué confirms the African Union’s intention to contribute to the joint report with the Secretary-General on the future of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This report was requested by 30 September by resolution 2568 (2021). The technical renewal adopted today allows more time for this discussion, but it must be completed. France calls on the parties to reach an agreement as soon as possible, and, in any case, before three months. There can be no further delay. The Security Council must take a decision in March 2022 to establish a reconfigured African Union mission. If it is prevented from doing so, this would call into question the European Union’s funding of AMISOM. Finally, France reiterates its call for the Somali electoral process to be completed as soon as possible. Somalis need a fully legitimate government that can meet the challenges facing the country. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): May I start by paying tribute to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and recognize its successes over the past 14 years. In resolution 2568 (2021), the Security Council asked the Secretary-General, jointly with the African Union, and in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia and donors, to produce a proposal on the strategic objectives, size and composition of a reconfigured African Union mission. Unfortunately, more time is required to reach consensus on that proposal. We therefore recommended a rollover of the current mandate to enable this process to conclude, and we thank Council members for their support for this approach. We take note of the comments made today by other Council members, and we urge all stakeholders, especially the United Nations, the African Union, the Federal Government of Somalia and donors, to use this rollover period to engage in good faith to reach consensus on the way ahead.

I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

We welcome the renewal of the reauthorization of the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until March 2022, for a period of three months, to allow more time for consultations between stakeholders on an AMISOM reconfiguration. Despite the ambiguity in and the lack of predictability of the next steps, we are firmly committed to the implementation of the revised Somali transition plan. We have also undertaken important steps to carry out security sector reform in accordance with our national security architecture. It is the resolve of our Government to degrade the Al-Shabaab’s threats posed to the lives of the Somali people. I take this opportunity to commend our brave Somali security forces, which continue to be at the forefront of the fight against Al-Shabaab. I also pay tribute to AMISOM troop- and police-contributing countries’ personnel and recognize their sacrifices as well their quest for lasting peace and stability in Somalia. Over the past few months, we have meaningfully engaged in extensive consultations with the African Union, bearing in mind the security-transition priorities of AMISOM post-2021. Despite some delays, we remain engaged in making further progress and in reporting back jointly by March 2022. Nearly 15 years since the Security Council’s authorization of the AMISOM presence in Somalia, and despite significant hard-earned gains made in the fight against Al-Shabaab, today, we are at critical juncture. That compels us to ensure that the sacrifices made in the last decade or so are not wasted. In that regard, on the security arrangements post-2021 for Somalia, my delegation would like to reaffirm that the Somali transition plan remains the only road map and strategic vision of the Government of Somalia and the Security Council for a phased, condition-based AMISOM exit strategy. Moreover, the Somali Government will not accept an African Union-United Nations hybrid mission, or any post 2021 security arrangements, without Host State consent. Somali ownership must, at all times, guide our actions and continue to prevail, by vigorously aligning with Somali priorities while providing adequate support in that regard. In conclusion, we will continue our viable approach to countering Al-Shabaab while building the core security functions of Somalia and sustainably recovering strategic locations. Consequently, our end state is clear: AMISOM must evolve into an African Union-led transition mission that should be mandated from the 2022 to the end of 2023, in line with the revised Somali transition plan and resolution 2568 (2021). We invite our partners and friends to constructively work with us on our strategic plan for the progressive takeover by the Somali security forces of full security responsibility across Somalia while paving the way for AMISOM’s successful and eventual exit from Somalia.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.