S/PV.8965 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. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in the meeting: Mr. James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia; Mr. Francisco Caetano José Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia; and His Excellency Mr. Olof Skoog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. 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/2022/101, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia. I now give the floor to Mr. Swan. Mr. Swan: I thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity to brief the Council on the situation in Somalia. I am pleased to do so again, together with the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira. This underscores the important partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in Somalia. I once again commend the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali forces for their contributions to improving security and stability in Somalia. National elections in Somalia are now more than one year behind the constitutionally prescribed schedule. Since I last briefed the Council three months ago (see S/PV.8907), however, the Upper House elections have concluded and the pace of the House of the People elections has progressed considerably, following the January National Consultative Council. The Federal Electoral Implementation Team has signalled its intent to fill at least two thirds of the House of the People seats in the coming weeks. Thus far, 130 of 275 seats have been elected, with an additional 60 seats announced for competition shortly. I call on the electoral management bodies, as well as Somalia’s political leaders, to accelerate and quickly conclude the elections for the House of the People. Some 28 women  — or approximately 22 per cent  — have so far been elected to the House of the People. That falls well short of the 30 per cent women quota Somalia’s political leaders have committed to achieving for the two Houses of Parliament. I urge all Somali actors to redouble their efforts to meet that target. Thanks to the generous contributions of Member States, the United Nations continues to provide technical, material and advisory support to the election management bodies, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Consultative Council and the women’s Goodwill Ambassadors. As we continue to receive reports of alleged irregularities in the electoral process, I urge key actors to course correct to improve the process, whenever necessary. That is vital to ensuring that the elections receive broad acceptance among the Somali public. In addition to the support we provide to electoral institutions, the United Nations continues to coordinate with international partners to ensure joint messaging. Together with our partners, we have consistently called for a timely and credible electoral process that will enable the next Government to focus on advancing Somalia’s broader national priorities, including security challenges, as well as the State-building and development agenda. While political tensions among some Somali leaders continue to flare up sporadically, they have so far been contained, and so have not derailed the electoral process. However, the risk remains that a miscalculation could cause those tensions to spill over into conflict. The United Nations has consistently sought to help Somalis reduce that risk by directly engaging all parties and calling on them to address their political differences through dialogue. Together with our partners, we continue to advocate for restraint, compromise and pragmatic consensus-based solutions so that Somali leaders remain focused on completing the elections. Al-Shabaab continues to pose the major security threat in Somalia. Political divisions and prolonged delays in the elections have allowed insurgent forces to make some recent gains. The group’s modus operandi remain unchanged, with Banaadir region and South- West state the centre of its attacks. In recent months, operations have also intensified in Hirshabelle and Galmudug states, as Al-Shabaab has sought to exploit local political and security tensions. We continue to see extensive use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including a series of person-borne IEDs and vehicle-borne IEDs, in Mogadishu in recent weeks. With the future configuration of AMISOM currently under review, the United Nations is actively engaged in discussions among the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union and key donors. Progress was made during the technical discussions held in Mogadishu from 27 January to 9 February, including through developing the joint African Union-Federal Government of Somalia concept of operations for a reconfigured Mission; the joint African Union-United Nations proposal on a reconfigured Mission; and the United Nations logistical options in support of a reconfigured Mission and the Somalia Security Forces going forward, as requested under resolution 2568 (2021). Progress in the implementation of the Somali transition plan is key for both the reconfiguration of AMISOM and to determine the pace of the transfer of responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces. We encourage the Federal Government of Somalia to convene the next Somali transition plan steering committee meeting soon to advance that priority, in collaboration with security partners. The humanitarian situation in Somalia remains extremely dire, with 7.7 million Somalis requiring humanitarian assistance in 2022. Somalia is the most severely drought-affected country in the Horn of Africa, with 4.3 million people impacted and more than 270,000 people newly displaced due to drought. With the next rains in April likely to be the fourth below-average cycle, Somalia faces a potential humanitarian catastrophe. While the Somalia humanitarian operation has the know-how to deliver life-saving aid to people in need, it requires adequate resources. Unfortunately, the humanitarian response plan for 2022 is currently only 2 per cent funded. While I wish to express my profound appreciation to the donor community for its continued commitment to Somalia, I once again call on donors to increase their support for urgent assistance to the most vulnerable Somali people. While critical, any humanitarian response is, of course, not a long-term solution. The United Nations family is therefore taking action to strengthen the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding nexus. To that end, Somali-based agencies, funds and programmes continue to pursue a joint approach to address challenges such as water management, finding durable solutions, and fraud and corruption. Implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, as well as the inclusion of young people, remains central to our work. With support from the Peacebuilding Fund, the United Nations and the Government of Somalia jointly launched a new women, peace and protection programme in November. That project is aimed at promoting the meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding processes, particularly within decision-making and leadership roles. That is an investment enabling us to implement the women and peace and security agenda at the federal and subnational levels, as well as to improve critical areas such as the protection of women and girls from sexual violence in conflict. On the youth front, the United Nations continues to support the Somali Government in integrating youth dimensions in multiple areas, from electoral participation to local reconciliation and more. While political, security and humanitarian conditions in Somalia are still fragile, I remain guardedly hopeful that the country will make further progress in those areas in the coming months and beyond. That requires Somali leaders to put their differences aside for the good of the Somali people and to conclude credible elections as soon as possible. That overdue step will then allow leaders to refocus their efforts on the full range of urgent national priorities. To that end, the international community continues to accompany the Somali people on that journey by providing the necessary support.

I thank Mr. Swan for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Madeira. Mr. Madeira: I thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity to address the Security Council on the situation in Somalia. I am pleased to be here alongside my good friend Ambassador James Swan, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. We are now 10 days away from the 25 February deadline for the completion of the Lower House elections. That all-important date was set by the Somali leaders at the National Consultative Council meeting held in January. Although that deadline may not be met, it represents the sense of urgency and seriousness with which the Somali leaders have committed themselves to overcoming the odds and concluding the electoral process as early as possible. We encourage them to remain steadfast, since despite the slow pace at which the process is moving, 130 members of the Lower House of the Federal Parliament have so far been elected. We also note that 28 women have been elected to date, representing 22 per cent of the 30 per cent quota reserved for women. As the process continues, enhanced efforts need to be deployed to scale that percentage up to reach the target set. The African Union, through the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), continues to actively engage, support and provide technical expertise to Somalia’s ad hoc election management bodies, the Federal Election Implementation Team and other key election stakeholders, including the federal member states. In support of a swift conclusion of the ongoing electoral process, I have continued to undertake a series of diplomatic engagements, including meetings with civil society representatives, state officials, opposition leaders, and federal and regional leaders. My aim has been to listen and learn from all stakeholders who are making visible contributions to the advancement of the electoral process and to encourage them to continue doing so and to move ahead with the elections. Somalia needs continued support from international partners to overcome the current and emerging election challenges. In that context, I am very encouraged that the structural and operational difficulties faced by states and the Electoral Dispute Resolution Committee have been addressed. I also welcome the important role played by the National Consultative Council meeting, held from 3 to 9 January, in forging consensus on resolving outstanding election issues. Besides technical support, AMISOM has remained focused on delivering election security. Our delivery since November has been a three-pronged one. First, we have redoubled our training efforts in the joint operation centres, with an emphasis on building the capacity of Somali Police Force commanders. Linked to that effort has also been AMISOM’s support on intelligence, data management and reporting — a critical element of the functioning of the joint operation centres. Secondly, recognizing the lead role of the Somali Police Force in delivering election security, African Union police now collaborate with senior Somali Police Force leadership. Their task is to offer strategic support on election security issues. Thirdly, we have enhanced our operational support and police force, with a specific focus on jointly providing security to the Lower House election venues. Key venues have included Banaadir, Kismaayo, Baidoa, Dhuusamarreeb, Baraawe and Jawhar. We are presently deployed in Garbahaarrey, ready to secure the electoral process there. Regrettably, the security situation in the country continues to be a source of great concern, as Al-Shabaab remains relentless in its destabilizing activities. Since my most recent briefing (see S/PV.8907), we have observed an upsurge in terrorism-related violence. The violence has mainly been perpetrated by Al-Shabaab through the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), person-borne improvised explosive devices, mortar attacks, ambushes and targeted assassinations of senior Government officials, Somali security forces and civilians. We have also been monitoring with concern what could be a resurgent Islamic State, as credible reports indicate that the group carried out two IED attacks and detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in November 2021 and January 2022, respectively. Besides, AMISOM is assessing multiple reports suggesting that the Islamic State has returned to extortion in Mogadishu. As we continue to monitor the activities of Al-Shabaab and the possible expansion of the Islamic State, a clear picture is emerging. Al-Shabaab appears emboldened by its determination to disrupt the ongoing electoral process. The attack of 10 February at the El Gabta junction in Mogadishu in which a convoy of “Somaliland” election representatives was targeted is a clear demonstration of that trend. With regard to a possible resurgence of the Islamic State, these must be judged within the context of Da’esh’s emerging regional presence in East Africa, one that is characterized by a proliferation of funds, intensified recruitment and the transfer of terrorist tactics. During the reporting period, AMISOM has continued to focus on joint operations in support of the Somali security forces. In December 2021, together with the Somali security forces, key operations were carried out in Lower Juba and Gedo, while in early January 2022 has been devoted to consolidating the gains of Operation Badbaado I. Similarly, in late January, AMISOM, Somalia and the Somali National Army, including the Danab forces, carried out a series of operations that saw five senior Al-Shabaab figures put out of action, with several other Al-Shabaab fighters captured. The African Union (AU), through the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, has announced its civilian-led stabilization activities. With the support of the European Union and the current Government, the Mission, in collaboration with both the Federal Government and federal member states, has carried out a total of 34 quick-impact and peace-strengthening projects. Those projects, which include the provision of health services, educational support, water and sanitation, have all been completed and handed over to various communities throughout Somalia. The last quarter of 2021 saw an intensification of contacts with a view to overcoming the challenges that stood in the way of efforts towards an agreement on a framework for the establishment of a reconfigured African Union mission in Somalia that would replace AMISOM and eventually hand over full security responsibilities to the Somali security forces. Those challenges were successfully overcome after bilateral discussions between the AU and the Federal Government of Somalia led to the adoption of a nine-point approach to future engagements in that regard. The ensuing bilateral technical discussions, which at the latest stage included officials of the United Nations and the European Union, culminated in the production of three important draft documents aimed at providing responses to the request made by this body, as enshrined in operative paragraphs 8 and 9 of its resolution 2568 (2021). The draft concept of operations, the draft joint proposals and the draft optional logistical support contain details on the strategic objectives, mandate, composition, size, structure, equipment, duration and command and control of the mission. They are documents still in the making that will have to go through different levels of clearance before they can be brought to the attention of the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council. Those documents were developed with the full participation of the AU and the Federal Government of Somalia and the involvement of entities recommended by the Council. They are a true reflection of the spirit and letter of the Somali transition plan, as they faithfully outline and follow the dictates regarding the operational activities, institutional capacity-building and stabilization in the way envisaged by the plan and in a manner that we all understand and identify with. The documents clearly retain the idea that the mission is a transitional mechanism aimed at enabling and supporting the Somali Government and its security forces to effectively take full responsibility for the security of Somalia in a pre-established time frame, preserve the gains accumulated with the support of AMISOM over the years and allow for the departure of AU forces and other mission components. To achieve those lofty objectives, both the new AU mission and the Federal Government of Somalia need to be supported. The military component of the AU mission and the Somali security forces must enhance their counter-IED ability, their ability to collect and process information and their capacity to apply the elements of speed and surprise when acting on real-time, actionable intelligence. The right type and an adequate number of enablers and multipliers would be required to give the mission’s armed component the flexibility, agility and mobility that the transition plan is demanding and that the mission itself needs to succeed in its targeted and other planned joint or coordinated operations. The achievements made around the Somali force-generation effort should be enhanced and consolidated over the next few months that the transfer of security responsibility to the Somali security forces is achieved within the projected time frame of the new mission. Transition is a complex process. The Friends of Somalia involved in helping the country assume full responsibility for its security, recover peace and achieve reconciliation and development must continue to pull together complementarily and united in their common paths. There should be a clear division of labour, transparency and accountability in the implementation of tasks and commitments, improved coordination and enhanced information-sharing and mutual accountability.

I thank Mr. Madeira for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Skoog. Mr. Skoog: Let me extend our best wishes for the Russian Federation presiding over the Security Council this month. I thank you, Madam President, for inviting the European Union (EU) to brief the Security Council on Somalia. This is a very timely discussion in view of the increasing challenges in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region. Somalia is a key country in the broader context of stability and security in the Horn of Africa. Despite progress notably on economic reforms, the overall situation in Somalia continues to be extremely fragile and volatile, hampered by political instability, persistent security challenges, socioeconomic vulnerability, climate-induced shocks and a lack of sustained Government presence and basic services delivery. Against a rising trend towards violence and extremism and the evolving threat of Al-Shabaab, the country continues to suffer from terrorism and transnational crime. These factors, combined with the coronavirus disease pandemic and an unprecedented, devastating drought, are the main drivers of acute humanitarian needs, with 2.9 million people internally displaced and over 4.6 million people facing acute food insecurity and hunger from February to May. Half of Somalia’s population is assessed to be in immediate need of humanitarian aid and protection, as we have heard. It is therefore imperative to adopt a comprehensive, nexus-based approach to create synergies between humanitarian engagements, development efforts and peacebuilding and reconciliation. Somalia itself is presently at a crossroads, due to significant shifts in regional dynamics and the factors I have just described. The immediate priorities are the conclusion of parliamentary elections, a peaceful transition of power and the formation of a functioning Government able to deliver to its population and engage, inter alia, with the international community. In Somalia, it is critical to put politics at the centre. For months now, Somalia’s partners and neighbours have continued to urge Somali leaders to work in a spirit of compromise to overcome the last political hurdles to finalizing an inclusive electoral process as soon as possible and respecting the agreements they reached both on 17 September 2020 and 27 May 2021. We note the level of progress — fewer than 50 per cent of the 275 seats needed to finish the elections for the House of the People within the prescribed deadline of 25 February. The people of Somalia deserve the full dedication of their leaders to their safety, well-being and progress. Together with international partners, the EU has given support to Somalia to conclude the overdue elections and conduct an orderly and peaceful transition of power. This will be key not only for stability, but also for reinvigorating the overall reform dynamics, including State-building efforts and previously agreed milestones that have not been met, such as the review of the provisional constitution, agreeing on the federal model for Somalia. In spite of the highly volatile situation experienced in the past year, EU cooperation programmes have continued to support State-building, security and socioeconomic development. Since 2014, our support has amounted to almost €1 billion in development and humanitarian assistance. With regard to the electoral process, last year an immediate package benefiting civil society of €3.5 million was released to kick-start the implementation of the electoral agreement; actions include civic and voter education, the establishment of early conflict warning and response, conflict mediation, as well as information-sharing on the electoral process. These actions also support women’s participation across the country. Moving on to the security situation in Somalia and the evolving threat of Al-Shabaab, looking more specifically at the tools both needed and available to provide a full spectrum solution to degrade Al-Shabaab both on land and at sea, let me emphasize the EU’s strong commitment to Somalia’s State-building efforts. Apart from the contribution to development and humanitarian assistance, as referred to earlier, our investment in the security sector is the most substantial, with more than €2.3 billion to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) since 2007. We have also deployed an executive Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) maritime operation — European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta  — and two missions, the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) and the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia); Operation Atalanta has successfully contributed to the suppression of piracy off the coast of Somalia. With the objective of consolidating and enhancing the provision of maritime security, the mandate of Operation Atalanta was recently extended to other secondary executive tasks to counter the trafficking of weapons in support of the United Nations arms embargo, and to counter the trafficking of narcotic drugs, as well as monitoring illicit activities at sea. These new tasks will contribute to the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab and its funding streams. Our CSDP missions in Somalia continue to support the build-up of the Somali security forces and institutions for a gradual takeover of security responsibilities, both on land and off-shore, in line with the Somali transition plan. Since its inception, EUTM Somalia has trained over 7,000 Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers and has been supporting the development of the Somali- owned training system that provides the SNA with the policies, procedures and expertise to manage its own force generation. The mission also provides strategic advice and targeted training on enabling functions, such as counter-improvised explosive device training, which remains instrumental in decreasing the Somali National Army’s dependency on AMISOM. EUCAP Somalia has been supporting the development of the Somali Police Force, in particular the Federal Darwish, and its interoperability with the Somali National Army. Over 800 Federal Darwish officers have been now deployed to security transition operations. EUCAP Somalia has also supported the reopening of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Mogadishu, which has now reached its initial operational capability. Turning to the immediate question of Somalia and the security transition from AMISOM, let me first underline that any progress made over the years in Somalia has been possible thanks to AMISOM, and I pay tribute here again to the sacrifices made by Africa’s sons and daughters, who have paid the ultimate price in their contribution to security in Somalia. In line with the required Security Council mandate requesting a reconfigured African Union (AU) mission, there is general agreement that continued support from an international mission on land is necessary, that more accountability from all stakeholders is needed, and that the AU is best placed to continue to provide this. Let us be clear — the EU is willing to support the continued security presence of a reconfigured AU mission in Somalia, but there is no support for more of the same. This is precisely because the context has evolved, which requires a fresh, holistic approach to addressing the challenge posed by the mutating threat, which sees a number of actors working more closely to deliver such a comprehensive and integrated solution. Despite the delays of last year, it is nevertheless a positive sign that the parties are re-engaged, that the Quartet — the Federal Government of Somali, the AU, United Nations and EU — has reconvened and the work begun by the technical teams, first in Addis Ababa, then in Cairo and now Mogadishu. The road map provided by the African Union anticipated this entirely, in accordance with the timelines set by the Security Council. We welcome also the positive spirit fostered between the teams to conclude this process. In parallel to the reconfiguration and plans for the eventual drawdown of the AU Transitional Mission to Somalia, it is essential that the Federal Government of Somalia plan how this drawdown process can be matched by a corresponding generation of the forces needed. We encourage full transparency on this going forward. As partners, we look forward also to discussing the resources needed to deliver the Somali transition plan. Together, these plans must be realistic, pragmatic and focused, as well as conditions-based, in order to ensure a measured transition between the phases foreseen. As regards the EU, while we continue to call on all partners for a more balanced donor structure, the EU commitment to supporting peace, stability and development in Somalia is long-term. Turning now to the maritime domain, since its inception in 2008, Operation Atalanta has successfully reduced the threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia, with 171 pirates having been transferred to competent authorities. The report of the Secretary-General of November 2021 (S/2021/920) concluded that piracy had indeed been suppressed but not eradicated, as root causes remain, and that only naval presences, such as Operation Atalanta, could ensure the needed deterrent effect; Operation Atalanta also has a 100-per cent success rate in the protection of World Food Programme vessels delivering aid to persons in need; almost 1,600 vessels have been protected, with over 2.5 million tons of food and aid delivered to Somalia since 2008. We are willing to work hand-in-hand with the Somali authorities to support their efforts on maritime security, of course in full respect of the sovereignty of Somalia. We hope that the Council will be able to agree on a revised resolution that better reflects Somali priorities, while also renewing the legal provisions necessary for the continuation of Operation Atalanta for at least for the remainder of this year. We therefore count on Somalia to express its readiness regarding a renewal of the resolution for at least another nine months. If the resolution is not extended beyond 3 March, Operation Atalanta will not have the authorization to fight piracy and to protect the deliveries of the World Food Programme and other vulnerable vessels in the Somali territorial waters. For the EU’s part, once the resolution is renewed and extended, we stand ready to start discussions with the Somali Government to define the mutually agreed parameters of cooperation on maritime security, including on capacity-building. The EU remains strongly committed to further enhancing the regional maritime security architecture, as well as to supporting Somalia’s strategic priorities, notably the build-up of maritime capacity and capability and the gradual takeover by Somalia of security responsibilities, both offshore and on land.

I thank Mr. Skoog for his briefing. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): May I start by thanking Mr. Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, and Ambassador Skoog for their briefings. I want to focus my remarks today on four topics: elections, security transition, piracy and the humanitarian situation in Somalia. First, on elections, the United Kingdom welcomes the recent increase in the pace of elections to the lower house. Completing the electoral process will prevent prolonged political uncertainty, avoid increased risks to Somalia’s security and stability, weaken Al-Shabaab and help to pave the way for Somalia to access much- needed international financing. We therefore urge all Somali political leaders to put the national interest first, prioritize the conclusion of a peaceful, credible electoral process and ensure that security forces are not used as political instruments. We hope to see the conclusion of the lower house elections by 25 February and the achievement, as a minimum, of the target of 30 per cent of parliamentary seats won by women. Secondly, on the security transition, I want to underline the importance of reaching swift agreement on a reconfigured African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) that is realistic, effective and affordable and which can support the implementation of the Somalia transition plan. We welcome the positive progress made in recent weeks by the United Nations, the African Union, the Somali Government and other stakeholders to that end. It is critical that the process continue at pace. We also encourage the Federal Government of Somalia to provide clarity on how it will generate the forces and capacity required to implement the Somalia transition plan. That is the best way to protect the AMISOM successes, won by AMISOM Somali forces at such a great cost, and address the evolving threat of Al-Shabaab. Thirdly, on the subject of piracy, the United Kingdom commends the successful efforts of Somalia and international efforts to counter piracy off the Somali coast. We have no objection in principle to the Federal Government of Somalia’s desire to move to a bilateral maritime cooperation framework. However, we support an extension of resolution 2608 (2021) until such a framework is in place to avoid any operational gaps, which includes ensuring that the European Union’s Operation Atalanta can continue to function. Finally, on the humanitarian situation, I want to say a few words about the backdrop of the severe humanitarian need against which those other challenges are unfolding. The United Kingdom recently announced $18.3 million in additional support to address the effects of the current drought on top of the $47.5 million humanitarian assistance already committed. However, more funds are needed. It is vital that we, the international community, learn the lessons from 2017. We need to act fast to improve access to affected populations, as well as helping to build longer- term resilience to climate shocks. In conclusion, there is no overnight solution to these complex peace, security and humanitarian challenges. However, the rapid completion of credible elections, as agreed by the National Consultative Council last month, will be a critical step towards keeping the vital economic, security and constitutional reforms on track.

I join other speakers in thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. James Swan, for his briefing. I also thank the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Ambassador Francisco Madeira, and Ambassador Olof Skoog for their respective updates. The implementation of the electoral process in Somalia has been unable to meet the deadlines for more than a year now. Regrettably, the reporting period also witnessed political tensions, slowing down the election process. While there may be genuine logistical and administrative challenges, the biggest impediment has been the acute political differences among the stakeholders within Somalia. We agree with the Secretary-General that the Somali leaders should rise above their political differences and work together to complete the electoral process credibly and swiftly on the basis of the 17 September 2020 and 27 May 2021 electoral agreements. We appreciate the proactive and pragmatic approach of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and his team in the ongoing effort to complete the electoral process. In the coming weeks, the Somali authorities need to complete the elections to the House of the People, by 25 February, in line with the communiqué of the National Consultative Council. We recognize the efforts that have been made since last month in that direction. Smooth coordination among the constitutional authorities remains a key factor in concluding the electoral process, culminating in the presidential elections. The failure to meet the upcoming deadlines will only strengthen the hands of adversaries of democracy in Somalia, such as the terror group Al-Shabaab. As highlighted in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/101), the activities of Al-Shabaab increased by 17 per cent in 2021. The frequency of its associated operations has also intensified. This year itself, Al-Shabaab has carried out five attacks, including four in Mogadishu, killing scores of people and injuring many others. Ambassador Madeira spoke at length about the grave nature of the Al-Shabaab threat. We unequivocally condemn such terrorist attacks, and we express condolences to the families of the victims. Terrorism is a threat not only to Somalia, but also the whole world. Preventing terror outfits from accessing financial resources is crucial. Equally important is to recognize and address the linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime. In that context, we need to recognize that the fight against terrorism in Somalia cannot be sustained without AMISOM. The contribution of AMISOM to security and stability is immense. I would like to recall that India contributed $1 million to the AMISOM trust fund last year. The international community’s support to Somalia and the efforts of the African Union will be important in order to ensure that the gains made by AMISOM are not reversed. We reiterate the importance of predictable and sustainable funding for AMISOM. A stable security transition in Somalia demands firm leadership and the collaboration of the Somali Government and the African Union. The reconfiguration of the African Union Mission in Somalia is also required to address the security challenges. We look forward to the joint proposal on the Somali transition plan to be submitted to the Council in the next few weeks. The situation in Somalia continues to be a matter of concern. The difficult humanitarian situation calls for the enhanced support of the international community to the 2022 humanitarian response plan. In conclusion, the people of Somalia have the unique honour of being Africa’s first democrats. The current electoral process provides an opportunity to revive that legacy. India will continue to support Somalia and its people in their collective desire for a stable, secure and peaceful future.

I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council (A3), namely, Gabon, Ghana and Kenya. First of all, we would like to begin by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General James Swan; Ambassador Francisco Caetano José Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia; and Ambassador Olof Skoog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, for their respective briefings. We also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Ambassador Abukar Osman, in this meeting. We thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2022/101) and welcome the progress made by the Federal Government and all stakeholders in Somalia on the agreed priorities of the Somalia transition plan. We note the successful conclusion of the elections that took place for the 54-member Upper House of the Federal Parliament in November 2021. We also note the lack of achievement with regard to women’s representation, as well as the elections for the members of the 275-member lower house, which continues to have a considerable number of outstanding seats. We also welcome the decisions of the National Consultative Council conference, held in Mogadishu in early January, and encourage the steadfast commitment of all stakeholders to ensuring that the lower-house elections are held by 25 February, in accordance with the agreed timelines. The exceedingly long electoral process is detrimental to efforts to consolidate peace and rebuild the economy. We urge all political actors and leaders in Somalia to show true leadership and patriotism by putting the country’s interests first, to de-escalate rising political tensions and to refrain from provocation or use of force that could undermine peace and stability in the country. The path of the constitutional framework must be maintained, and the actions of the Federal Government of Somalia must focus on its timely implementation. While commending the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for the progress made in their fight against Al-Shabaab and other armed groups and in providing much-needed security for the elections and other stabilization efforts, we are deeply concerned about Al-Shabaab’s continuing ability to attack and pursue a negative political agenda against the Federal Government of Somalia and its interests, including the electoral process. We therefore call on the Security Council, as well as all international partners, to assist both the Somali Federal Government forces and AMISOM to improve their operational capabilities, which is essential to Somalia’s stabilization and peacebuilding efforts and critical to defeating and dismantling Al-Shabaab, its affiliates and other terrorist networks that continue to control large swaths of territory in Somalia, with several funding streams. Like other terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and Western and Southern Africa, Al-Shabaab has a transnational character. It is key that more efforts be undertaken to limit its ability to strike regional and international targets and to carry out operations outside Somalia. The Council should show a willingness to differentiate national stabilization tools from those intended to limit the threat posed by international terrorism. Al-Shabaab’s use of foreign fighters, its cells in foreign countries, its affiliation with Al-Qaida and its transnational aims should be distinguished from its criminal and political dimensions in Somalia. The Council’s ability to do so may give some members of the group greater incentive to distance themselves from its international aims and operations. As we anticipate the adoption of a modified mandate for the mission in Somalia at the end of March, we encourage the ongoing discussions on the future of AMISOM and look forward to the submission of clear outcome documents to the Council by 7 March, covering the areas of the concept of operations, the strategic plan and the logistics support plan. We note the ongoing discussions on the potential and global funding for the transition mission in Somalia and encourage predictable and sustainable funding, including from the United Nations assessed contributions. While commending the Council for its proactive approach to addressing humanitarian issues in Somalia, we wish to highlight the dire humanitarian situation in the country as a result of drought-induced destitution and natural disasters, especially in the southern, central and north-eastern parts of Somalia. We call on national and international humanitarian development organizations to scale up their efforts in those areas. We reiterate our call for increased humanitarian assistance to Somalia, which is urgently needed to assist the increasing number of civilians in need, address the rise in food insecurity, alleviate drought-induced displacement and save lives and livelihoods. We acknowledge and commend the work of all peacekeepers, security personnel and the personnel of the United Nations, the African Union and regional community and civil society organizations that are working in Somalia for their sacrifice and commitment to ensuring that the country will be able to stand on its feet and take charge of its own development aspirations. In conclusion, the A3 members reaffirm our respect for and commitment to the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Somalia, and urge the Council and other relevant partners to continue to take that into consideration, as we work towards bringing lasting peace and stability to Somalia. We encourage the Federal Government of Somalia to enhance its leadership role with regard to the transition plan to guide all relevant partnership support.

I thank the briefers today for their remarks. The United States would also like to thank the civilian and uniformed personnel of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, the United Nations Support Office in Somalia and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as they implement their important mandates in an extremely dangerous and challenging environment. The United States reiterates its deep concern about political and security developments in Somalia. While we acknowledge the significant progress made since the National Consultative Council meeting from 3 to 9 January in selecting members of the House of the People, at the current pace Somalia will miss yet another deadline for completing parliamentary elections. We have also seen additional deployments of Somali national security forces to polling locations, which have raised new concerns about efforts to use the threat of force to influence voting. Security forces should have no role in determining the outcome of elections. The rapid conclusion of elections that are credible, further laying the groundwork for responsive governance, is a key element to achieve sustainable peace in Somalia, along with enhanced security and inclusive economic growth. We call on Somalia’s national and federal member State leaders to follow through with their own commitments to completing the parliamentary elections in a credible and transparent manner by 25 February. Turning to AMISOM, we note that the three-month technical rollover of the mandate expires on 31 March, and we urge all parties to meet the deadlines set in January for completing the work necessary for a new mandate with a reconfigured force. With the very tight timeline, the key stakeholders must have opportunities for review and input as early as possible. The United States recognizes and honours the sacrifices made by AMISOM troops, and it is vital to adapt the Mission to the evolving Al-Shabaab threat and to agree on a concrete plan for a phased transition of security responsibilities to Somali security forces. A reconfigured African Union-led mission focused on increasing pressure on Al-Shabaab and transitioning security responsibility to Somali security forces is vital. We urge all stakeholders to reach consensus on an approach that can effectively advance peace and stability in Somalia and gain the requisite support of the Security Council. The United States recognizes the Council’s authorizations with respect to counter-piracy measures off the coast of Somalia that expire on 3 March. We hope that a new resolution can be adopted in the spirit of consensus. Finally, the United States would like to express its concern about the unfolding drought in the Horn of Africa, which the World Food Programme, on 8 February, called the worst in that region since 1981. We must act with urgency to save lives. We understand that 4.6 million Somalis, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity — Integrated Phase Classification levels 3 or 4 — in the coming months. The International Organization for Migration predicts that between 1 million and 1.4 million people in Somalia may be displaced by drought in the coming six months. We commend the work of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Swan and his team and urge the Somali Government and stakeholders to conclude national elections as soon as possible. That would enable a renewed focus on the work that needs to be done to make a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Somalia a reality.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, James Swan; the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Francisco Madeira; and the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, Olof Skoog, for their briefings. I welcome the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Mr. Osman, to today’ s meeting. I would like to focus on two points: elections and security challenges. France is concerned about the delay in the electoral process. We call upon the Somali federal authorities and the member states of the Federation to conclude the electoral process as soon as possible. In that regard, France recalls the importance of the full participation of women as voters and as candidates and welcomes the efforts of the Somali authorities to achieve the 30 per cent women’s quota. Somalia is in urgent need of a fully legitimate Government, which can respond to all challenges faced by the country. Insecurity and climate change continue to exacerbate the humanitarian situation and food insecurity. Sexual and gender-based violence and violations against children, in particular their recruitment, must be combated and the perpetrators prosecuted. Human rights and international humanitarian law must be respected by all. Our second priority must be to redefine the partnership between Somalia and the international community in order to address the security threats. Next month, the members of the Security Council are expected to share their views on the maritime security situation off the coast of Somalia, as well as on the future of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). We must use this time to evaluate the measures taken to date and seek to improve dialogue with all stakeholders, in particular the Somali authorities. With regard to maritime security, France welcomes the collective efforts that have made it possible to reduce the threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia. As just recalled by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, Operation Atalanta contributed that success and we are prepared to develop that partnership and adapt it to Somali priorities. Nevertheless, a revised resolution must be adopted before 3 March. We are working closely with Somalia to that end. The European Union is also the largest financial supporter of the fight against Al-Shabaab. France firmly condemns the attacks committed by that group against civilians and humanitarian and medical workers and against Somali and AMISOM forces. The threat posed by the group calls for in-depth changes to the security architecture in Somalia. We welcome the fact that Somalia and the African Union have reached an agreement on the principle of an African Union transitional mission in Somalia, to be called ATMIS, which will succeed AMISOM. I would like to underscore the importance of that development. France calls upon all parties to work to ensure that the transition from AMISOM to ATMIS is not just a change of name but also allows for efficiency gains. It is important that the mission be able to take more robust and better coordinated action against Al-Shabaab, while ensuring the transfer of responsibilities to Somali forces, based on an ambitious timetable. France hopes that a reconfiguration proposal will be submitted to the Security Council before 7 March so that a decision can be taken before the end of March.

May I also start by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary- General Swan and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission for Somalia, Mr. Madeira, for their insightful briefings. I also thank Ambassador Olof Skoog for sharing the perspective of the European Union. I will highlight five key issues. First, despite the recent progress in the electoral process, we are concerned about its slow pace and threats to its credibility. We condemn Al-Shabaab’s attacks and threats against election workers and candidates. The economic reform programme, agreed with the International Monetary Fund, will be severely off-track unless a new Government is formed early this year. If so, international development finance to Somalia, including from the World Bank, could be reduced significantly. That will have a detrimental effect on efforts to build peace, stability and development in Somalia. Norway strongly supports the work of Somali women political rights activists to advocate for the 30 per cent women’s quota. We are concerned about the fact the Lower House elections fall short of 2016 results. We strongly urge those responsible at all levels to redouble their efforts in the final stage of the electoral process. Once elected, women parliamentarians need to be empowered and supported. Secondly, the protection of civilians situation is deeply worrisome. Al-Shabaab remains the largest perpetrator of civilian casualties. However, State forces are responsible for several civilian casualties. We urge the Somali authorities to investigate and prosecute sexual violence and grave violations against children, in line with previous commitments. Thirdly, as noted in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/101), the current drought represents a grave threat to large parts of the Somali population. Climate shocks and conflict have displaced 2.9 million people, who face significant protection risks. Addressing drought and other climate-related security risks will require durable and sustainable interventions across the humanitarian-development-peacebuilding nexus, combined with long-term stabilization and development. Fourthly, the security situation remains of great concern, including the maritime security situation off the coast of Somalia and in the region. We note the delays in implementing the Somalia transition plan. Efforts towards security sector reform must intensify after the elections. Building and supporting accountable local government and its ability to deliver basic services to the population is key to achieving justice and security in Somalia. It also prevents the emergence of governance vacuums that could be filled by Al-Shabaab. In close coordination with authorities at federal and district levels, Norway has supported practical stabilization efforts throughout Somalia for almost a decade. We believe those efforts contribute to security, reconciliation and economic development and that stabilization efforts should be given higher priority and should be well resourced, coordinated and aligned with realities on the ground. Fifthly, we welcome the progress towards a reconfigured African Union Mission in Somalia achieved in the recent discussions between the AU Commission and the Federal Government of Somalia. We look forward to the joint United Nations- AU proposal.

I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Swan, Special Representative Madeira and, of course, my colleague Ambassador Skoog for their briefings. As we have heard today, we are now witnessing one of the region’s most severe droughts in recent history and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The statistics outlined by Mr. Swan earlier today are shocking. Millions are hungry and many have had to flee their homes. That compounds the many political and security challenges, including climate-related security risks, that confront Somalia. Those harsh realities must surely focus all minds around the table today. As an international community, we have a clear responsibility to step up and support the Somali people. That includes providing the needed additional funding and facilitating financial flows and doing that now. We must build on the lessons learned when famine was averted in 2017, while also recalling our collective failure in 2011. Back then, famine took hold in very similar circumstances to today’s. Today’s crisis requires a major humanitarian and political effort, to which Ireland will contribute. We condemn all attacks on humanitarian workers and goods, including diversion by profiteers. Safe and unrestricted humanitarian access must be guaranteed throughout the country so that life-saving support can reach those most in in need. The unfolding humanitarian catastrophe coincides with a moment when we are finally seeing progress towards completing elections. That is welcome. Nevertheless, I once again call on the Somali authorities to make the final push to get the process over the line fairly and with transparency. The Government can then return to the core business of delivering for the Somali people. We hope that the elections will be concluded swiftly and their results accepted without the threat or use of violence. Since Ireland joined the Council, we have emphasized the need for women to play an equal part in political life and in the public sphere in Somalia. We believe that such participation will lead to a better, fairer and safer country for all Somali people. I echo Special Representative Swan’s call today for the Somali Government to meet its 30 per cent women’s quota. That would be an encouraging step on the road to gender equality that could be built on in the next elections, when we hope the polls will be run on the basis of one person, one vote. We condemn the rising number of attacks by Al-Shabaab over the past year that have targeted those involved in elections. Those attacks continue to disproportionately affect civilians and, tragically, children. We condemn the reported widespread sexual and gender-based violence targeted against women and girls. We need to see the Somali authorities protect civilians, ensure accountability and provide services for all victims and survivors of those heinous crimes. I echo the Secretary-General in calling on the Somali authorities to adopt a new national action plan to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict. That horrific situation for all women and girls in Somalia must be ended. Ireland looks forward to participating actively in discussions on a future African Union (AU) mission in Somalia. We welcome the recent agreement on a framework proposal and look forward to seeing detailed plans, which should pragmatically take into account the realities today on the ground and in the wider context. The Somali Government needs to put in place realistic plans for the generation of forces to allow the eventual drawdown of the AU Transitional Mission to Somalia. Part of that context, of course, is maritime security. We hope that consensus will swiftly be found on the renewal of the resolution on maritime security off the coast of Somalia (resolution 2608 (2021)). Finally, as Mr. Skoog said this morning, the European Union has been and will continue to be a strong supporter of Somalia and its people. We look forward to working together on finding a way forward.

I thank Special Representatives Swan and Madeira, as well as the Head of the European Union delegation, for their presentations. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of Somalia. I will focus my remarks on three aspects — the political situation, the security situation and the humanitarian situation. First, Mexico takes note of the commitments agreed concerning electoral matters during the National Consultative Council meeting held in January. The Somali authorities need to build on that progress, maintain focus on the electoral process and proceed to implement the agreed decisions. A fair, timely, inclusive and transparent electoral process is absolutely necessary to secure the support and confidence of the Somali people. Similarly, the full inclusion and representation of women in political life is fundamental to achieving peace and sustainable development in Somalia. That is why we reiterate our call for the minimum quota of 30 per cent women’s representation in the Lower House to be met. The security situation in the country remains uncertain and unstable, largely as a result of Al-Shabaab’s activities. We strongly condemn the group’s attacks on civilians, humanitarian personnel, Somali forces and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops, as well as its attempts to disrupt electoral activities. As AMISOM’s mandate expires, it is crucial that the Somali Government, the African Union and the United Nations reach consensus on the strategic objectives, size and composition of a new mission that can better address the threat from Al-Shabaab while charting a realistic path for the handover of responsibilities to Somali security forces. It is important for the technical work among the parties to be completed as soon as possible and for the necessary documentation to be ready to present a collective proposal to the Security Council in a timely manner. Finally, as we have heard, it is extremely troubling that millions of people in Somalia are suffering as a result of the escalation of their humanitarian needs. That is very much a consequence of one of the worst droughts in recent years. It is an unfortunate example of how climate change can be a factor in exacerbating security issues, while simultaneously exacerbating humanitarian needs. The Council therefore can no longer avoid integrating the risk that climate change poses to peace and security into its responses and must incorporate it, without hesitation, as a necessary component of United Nations conflict-prevention strategies.

At the outset, I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Mr. Swan; the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Mr. Madeira; and the Head of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations, Mr. Skoog, for their comprehensive briefings. I would like to emphasize the commitment of the United Arab Emirates to working and cooperating with the United Nations and the international community to take joint measures to promote peace, prosperity and stability in Somalia. We commend in that regard the tireless efforts of the African Union Mission in Somalia, the United Nations Support Office in Somalia and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia to provide the necessary support for Somalia. Today’s meeting comes at a time when Somalia is suffering from difficult humanitarian, security and environmental conditions that require comprehensive international efforts aimed at addressing all challenges. Accordingly, the United Arab Emirates would like to highlight the following four points. First, the focus should be on supporting the political track as a basis for achieving sustainable peace in Somalia. We encourage all parties to engage in positive dialogue, giving priority to the holding of inclusive elections that meet the hopes and aspirations of the Somali people. Here we refer to the positive developments achieved in the political process by the holding of elections for all Senate seats, as well as the National Consultative Council reaching a consensus on electoral procedures and its decision to expedite the holding of the People’s Assembly elections by 25 February. We hope that the ratio of women participating in political life and in electoral processes in Somalia will be increased to achieve the desired quota of 30 per cent, as stated in the electoral agreement. We also stress the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of women candidates for political office. Secondly, we refer to the call made by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2022/101) on the importance of providing assistance to Somalia to address the security threats that prevent the building of a sustainable peace, particularly the Al-Shabaab terrorist movement, which continues to launch attacks and seeks to weaken the influence of the security forces by controlling large parts of the territories of central and southern Somalia. In the context of the recent progress made in the talks among stakeholders on the reconfiguration of AMISOM, we stress that this process must be carried out accurately, especially with regard to ensuring the transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali security forces through calculated steps that prevent the creation of a vacuum for the Al-Shabaab movement to consolidate its control or expand its scope. Thirdly, the humanitarian situation in Somalia continues to deteriorate owing to the frequency of acts of violence and natural disasters, which has led to an increase in internal displacement and deprived approximately 3 million Somalis of access to many basic services. We stress here the importance of the full, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid while providing protection for humanitarian workers. Fourthly, in the context of Somalia facing a natural disaster emergency, we urge the United Nations, AMISOM and its partners to support Somalia in addressing the impact of climate change, which has led to increased food insecurity. It is possible here to work on expanding the use of renewable energy in peace processes, which my country sees as an important step in reducing the impact of climate change, not to mention its low cost and benefits to local communities. My country commends the effective measures being taken to combat piracy as well as other steps, which are evidence of what can be achieved through strengthening partnerships and multilateral action in facing regional and international challenges and issues while promoting international peace and security. In conclusion, my country calls on the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the Somali people in order for them to achieve security, stability and prosperity.

May I start my intervention by thanking Special Representative James Swan, Special Representative Francisco Madeira and Ambassador Olof Skoog for their briefings. Let me also welcome Ambassador Abukar Osman to this meeting. I will focus my remarks today on two issues: elections and security. As regards the first issue, Brazil welcomes the significant electoral achievements that Somalia has demonstrated so far. We have closely followed each step of that process and carefully studied the Secretary- General’s latest report (S/2022/101), which welcomes the progress made towards the implementation of both the 17 September 2020 and the 27 May 2021 agreements on elections. By acknowledging the crucial completion of the Upper House process, we hope that the House of the People elections will follow the same pattern. We call on Somali society to perceive the 26 per cent of female representatives elected to the Upper House as a landmark accomplishment that should push women’s representation in the politics of Somalia further forward. The second issue on which I will focus today is security. Let me reaffirm Brazil’s firm rejection and condemnation of terrorism. May I also thank the troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia and the Somali armed forces for their brave and vital daily work in a situation that, as we all know, remains volatile and dangerous. Moreover, we wish to express our condolences to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks, especially those in Banaadir, Jubaland, South West and Hirshabelle, as well as those in and around Mogadishu. While Brazil fully endorses the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia for the protection of children in armed conflict and deems crucial the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on this priority issue, we are deeply concerned at the alarming levels of grave violations against children reported by Special Representative Gamba de Potgieter. The mortars launched in Baidoa on 27 November  — which even reached the United Nations compound  — demonstrate the threat that terrorism poses to political stability. Al-Shabaab claimed the attack and made it clear that it planned the action for the first day of elections for the House of the People in the city. The decisive interplay between the electoral process and stability in Somalia is an additional point that I want to raise. We understand that the health concerns since 2020 were the main cause of the elections delays. However, postponed elections, empty legislative seats and stretched terms all pose risks to political stability. The threat posed by Al-Shabaab endangers this scenario even more. That is why Brazil supports the landmark agreements on elections and urges Somalia to fully implement them and conclude its selection of representatives. We also hope that all political actors — national and local stakeholders — will prioritize the stability of the federation over the following months.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, James Swan; the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia, Mr. Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira; and the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, Olof Skoog, for their briefings. I welcome the presence of Ambassador Osman, Permanent Representative of Somalia, at this meeting. Recently the Somali parties have been moving forward with the electoral process, against all odds. The National Consultative Council, at its meeting in early January, decided to enhance the electoral process and expedite its progress. The parties finally settled their differences through dialogue and consultation, marking an important step towards the implementation of the 17 September 2020 and 27 May 2021 agreements. We encourage the Somali parties to continue to put the greater good of the country first, exercise restraint, overcome their differences and move forward with the elections as agreed, so as to create enabling conditions for national reconstruction. After 30 years of war, Somalia is facing a multitude of severe challenges. The international community should respect the Somali-led and Somali-owned approach, show the necessary patience and provide constructive assistance to the Somali elections and State-building instead of exerting excessive pressure at every turn. The security situation in Somalia remains volatile. So far this year, dozens of people have been killed in Al-Shabaab’s violent terrorist attacks. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has long been making great sacrifices to secure and stabilize Somalia. China would like to pay tribute to all the peacekeepers. Somalia and the African Union (AU) have reached an agreement on the reconfiguration of AMISOM. We look forward to an engagement between the United Nations Secretariat and the Somali Government, the AU, major donors and other parties so as to present a realistic and actionable report on the size and composition of the reconfigured AMISOM and the logistical support for the Mission in support of the implementation of the transition plan. The Council can refer to such a report when contemplating future decisions. China calls on the major contributors to keep up sustainable and predictable funding for AMISOM in order to avoid funding gaps that might affect the Mission’s counter- terrorism operations. The future of Somalia must be owned by Somalians. As Somalia’s security sector transition moves into a new phase, it is incumbent upon the international community to scale up its support for Somalia and help it develop the capacity needed to keep the country secure as soon as possible. At the same time, we should firmly support Somalia in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity by combating separatist acts. Somalia currently faces a dire humanitarian crisis. The worst droughts in 30 years have caused crop failure, killed livestock and sent prices soaring, with 70 per cent of the population living below the poverty line and nearly half of the population in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently announced a $1.5 billion humanitarian response plan for 2022. China calls on the international community to increase funding and provide emergency humanitarian supplies to the Somali people, including food, water and coronavirus disease vaccines. At the same time, we should recognize the role of development in improving the humanitarian and security situation and help Somalia overcome its governance challenges, improve its development capacities in order to become self-reliant, create jobs and growth and eliminate the root causes of conflict. Somalia is an important country in the Horn of Africa and its peace and stability is pivotal for regional dynamics. In order to help the countries of the region, including Somalia, to meet the triple challenge of security, development and governance, China has put forward an initiative of peaceful development in the Horn of Africa. China will continue to firmly support the countries of the region in exploring development paths that cater to their national realities, support the proper handling of ethnic, religious and border disputes in the African way and support efforts to build a united, stable and harmonious environment for development in the Horn of Africa. China is confident that Somalia and other countries of the region will be able to take the destiny of their countries and the region into their own hands through their own hard work and that enduring peace, order and stability shall prevail in the Horn of Africa.

I thank Special Representative Swan, Ambassador Madeira and Ambassador Skoog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, for their insightful remarks and recommendations. Albania follows with the utmost attention the ongoing situation in Somalia, a pivotal country for the Horn of Africa, a region that is facing several persistent challenges. I would like to highlight several points. First, Albania looks forward to the completion of the electoral process without further delays and welcomes the 9 January political agreement. We call on all parties to fulfil their responsibilities and not jeopardize the success of the elections. We believe that a transparent and credible electoral process in Somalia will spur the development of the country and ensure its security, stability and greater well-being for its people. Democracy is far more than simple elections. It is a day-by-day arduous construction. All groups and components of Somali society must be adequately represented, especially those whose voices are still not being heard. We take note of the improvement in the women’s quota in the Upper House, and we encourage Somali authorities to confirm their commitment by raising their representation to at least 30 per cent, as agreed, in the House of the People. We should not settle for less, but ask for more, until women can fully enjoy their lawful rights free from threats and violence and provide their unquestionable contribution to the consolidation of democracy and a more prosperous society. Secondly, we take note of the encouraging outcome of the meeting among the African Union Commission for Somalia, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Federal Government of Somalia on the nature and procedures of the incipient African Union Transitional Mission to Somalia (ATMIS). Given that AMISOM’s mandate ends on 31 March, we call on all stakeholders to spare no effort in working out the technical details, particularly with regard to operational and financial aspects of the new Mission. ATMIS must be able to effectively meet the challenges ahead and, ultimately, pass the security torch to Somali security forces. Thirdly, Albania strongly condemns Al-Shabaab’s attacks and the ongoing clashes of traditional and non-traditional actors. Last month, the increase in number and intensity of terrorist activities led to an exponential rise in innocent victims. The violent extremism threat needs to be tackled firmly through the cooperation of all national and international stakeholders in order to prevent the security vacuum from being quickly filled by old and new terrorist groups. While acknowledging the progress made by Mogadishu, we must not let down our guard when it comes to maritime security. As our Somali partners often highlight, it is not only a matter of combating the phenomenon of piracy but also, and more importantly, of fighting all kinds of criminal activities in the entire region. Lastly, Albania follows with deep concern the dire humanitarian situation in the country. Somalis have endured decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks, including severe droughts, and disease outbreaks. No efforts should be spared in ensuring humanitarian assistance and protection to the almost 8 million people in need. Against that backdrop, special focus should be placed on women, especially youth, who face a heightened risk of sexual violence, harassment and abuse. We concur with the Secretary-General’s concerns over the grave violations of children’s rights. The recruitment of children and attacks on schools and hospitals cut the younger generation off at the knees and sign their condemnation. Such acts must be stopped and cannot be tolerated. Albania stands by the Somali people and calls on all stakeholders and parties involved to step up efforts for a more stable, secure and prosperous Somalia.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of the Russian Federation. We thank Mr. James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia; Mr. Francisco Caetano José Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for their thorough briefings. We listened to the information provided by Ambassador Olof Skoog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. We welcome the participation in this meeting of Mr. Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of Somalia. We studied closely the latest report of the Secretary General (S/2022/101). Somalia continues to move forward with the electoral process. Elections for the Upper House of the Federal Parliament were held in October 2021 and voting for the Lower House is in full swing. We trust that soon the country will be able to complete the electoral process in accordance with the Somalia-wide agreements of 17 September 2020 and 27 May 2021. We urge all branches of the Somali Government to resolve all disputes exclusively through dialogue. We welcome the contribution made by AMISOM and the Office of Mr. Swan in resolving tensions within the Federal Government of Somalia in late December and early January. We call on United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia to pay more attention to preventing such situations, including through engagement with regional administrations. We hope that all participants in the Somali political process will continue to work together to establish a stable federal structure in the country. The territorial integrity and unity of Somalia must be preserved. The security situation in Somalia remains tense. We are concerned about the significant increase in the activities of Al-Shabaab, which controls vast areas of southern and central Somalia. Its fighters continue to conduct high-profile attacks with large numbers of victims, including terrorist attacks in cities and attacks on AMISOM and Somali National Army positions and bases. We note the efforts of the Somali Government and other countries of the region in the fight against terrorism, which constitutes a cross-border threat. We note some progress in discussions over the shared position of the African Union and the Federal Government of Somalia concerning the future security architecture in the country. We await the report on the outcome of the work of the international task force on preparations for the Mission’s new configuration, its updated concept of operations and the road map for logistical support. We call for a balanced approach to the reconfiguration of AMISOM. It is vital that the views and priorities of the host country be duly taken into account. The transfer of responsibility for security to the Somali National Army must take place gradually in line with the actual situation on the ground. We are convinced that in the current conditions of the ongoing terrorist threat it is premature to talk about the drawdown of the African peacekeeping mission. We agree with regional leaders that ensuring the adequate, predictable and sustainable funding of the Mission should be a priority. We support the Security Council considering various options for the international community to provide additional assistance to the efforts of the Somalis and AMISOM. We call on the United Nations and international and regional partners to continue to support Somalia, while fully respecting the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence and without interfering in its internal affairs. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

I would like to extend to you, Madam President, and the delegation of the Russian Federation our warmest congratulations and best wishes for success during your presidency of the Security Council this month. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of Mr. James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia; Mr. Francisco Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia; and Ambassador Olof Skoog, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. I thank them for their comprehensive briefings. The Federal Government of Somalia is pleased to report that in the past few weeks 45 per cent of the House of the People has been elected across all federal member states. That steady progress underlines the fact that the Federal Government of Somalia is committed to a free, transparent, credible and inclusive electoral process. The recent convening of the National Consultative Council was successfully completed. It provided an opportunity to address concerns submitted by leaders of the federal member states, opposition candidates and civil society. As a result, the agreed rectification enabled timely progress to the current level of elected members. The electoral process has regained its momentum, credibility and trust among the people of Somalia, and we are adamant about concluding the electoral process in the shortest time possible. On the security developments, we had high-level consultations with the African Union (AU) and signed an agreement outlining the principles and modalities for the new transition mission, in which a clear road map was agreed to deliver three key tasks, as stipulated in resolution 2568 (2021), namely, a joint concept of operations, a joint proposal for a new mission and options for a logistical support plan. Our recent Federal Government of Somalia, AU and African Union Mission in Somalia technical teams concluded a week-long consultation in Addis Ababa on a strategic objective and the parameters for the new AU transition mission in Somalia, which focused on the new expected mandate, the strategic end state, key objectives, the composition, benchmarks, the exit strategy and transition phases. We now have in sight a new mission that will be agile, mobile and able to fight effectively, but also whose capability will correspond to the threat levels in Somalia, guided by the Somali transition plan. Our objective and priority during the transition phase will be to strengthen the building of well-trained, equipped, affordable and self-sustaining Somali security forces. With those outlined objectives, we can commit to assuming full security responsibility across Somalia. Our commitment to our security is not limited to the land, but includes our national waters. I am pleased to report that the Office of the Attorney General of Somalia has been carrying out specialized and rigorous maritime training for prosecutors, judges, the coast guard and police and criminal investigation divisions over the past four years at the level of the federal member states. We have accelerated our efforts to build and capacitate our maritime law enforcement agencies and have established a specialized maritime unit to specifically deal with international maritime crime, including the rampant, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Somali waters. Considering that it is near the end of the three-month technical rollover of resolution 2608 (2021), we are pleased about the planned termination of the anti-piracy Security Council resolution on 3 March. The Federal Government of Somalia reiterates that it will no longer request any renewal or modification of that resolution, since it has successfully achieved its intended objectives after nearly 15 years. We convey our gratitude for the collective efforts of our international partners over the past and recent decades to eradicate the threat of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. We will continue to work on the security of our maritime domain and sustainable development in line with the Somali national priorities.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I will now adjourn the meeting so that the Council can continue its discussion on the subject in closed consultations.