S/PV.9477 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2023/871 and S/2023/872, each of which contains the text of a draft resolution. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolutions before it. I shall first put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/2023/871, submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2710 (2023). I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/2023/872, submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2711 (2023). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

Allow me to begin by extending the appreciation of the members of the three African members of the Security Council (A3) to the penholder, the United Kingdom, for their efforts in facilitating consensus for the adoption of resolution 2710 (2023), relating to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and the resolution on the technical rollover of the Al-Shabaab sanctions regime (resolution 2711 (2023)). As members of the A3, although we had several concerns, a number of them were taken on board in the resolution on ATMIS, which in turn made it easy for us to vote in favour of that resolution. Despite the challenging transition that Somalia is currently undergoing, we believe that the further implementation of the mandate provided for in the ATMIS resolution will serve to advance the interests of peace and security in that brotherly African country. We hold the view that, with careful management of the transitional processes, the ongoing threat posed by Al-Shabaab to the peace and stability of Somalia and the region can be defeated and the violent activities of that terrorist group, which has caused untold suffering, loss of life and destabilization in the region, brought to an end. We therefore support the extension of phase 2 of ATMIS and a delay in the drawdown of its 3,000 personnel until 31 December 2023. This extension will allow for a thoughtful transition plan and ensure that the gains made in countering Al-Shabaab are not lost. We hope that it will also help in addressing any potential challenges, and that by approaching the drawdown carefully and consistently, we can safeguard the progress achieved thus far in Somalia. It is our collective responsibility to stand against acts of terrorism and to support Somalia in her ongoing actions to restore peace and security. In this regard, while acknowledging the efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali security forces, we also note the support by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and other partners and emphasize the need for sustained international support to bolster Somalia’s national capacities. At the heart of the ATMIS operation in Somalia have been the troop- and police-contributing countries, who have shown unwavering dedication and sacrifice in the pursuit of peace in Somalia. We salute their efforts and sacrifices and underline the need for predictable, sustainable and flexible funding for ATMIS and other African Union-led peace support operations. Finally, we call on all Member States that cherish peace, security and development to support Somalia in her capacity-building and capability-strengthening efforts to counter the threat of Al-Shabaab. Their difficult duty at this time helps to prevent the further spread of terrorism and fulfils our shared aspiration for peace, security and development in the entire region.

The United States was pleased to vote in favour of extending the mandates of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) (resolution 2710 (2023)) during this important time in Somalia. We appreciate the constructive efforts of our United Kingdom colleagues to lead the Security Council in adopting this resolution. We accept the necessity of delaying the second ATMIS troop reduction from 30 September to 31 December 2023, but we are concerned that slow progress in meeting mandate objectives over the past year will hamper efforts to complete the transition by the end of 2024. Coordination between the Federal Government of Somalia and ATMIS is vital, and ATMIS troop reductions must be based on operational necessity, taking into account changes to the security situation and strategic planning by the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union. As a result of today’s adoption of the resolution, ATMIS will continue to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and continue to support the development of an integrated Somali security force capable of assuming progressively greater security responsibility. We recognize and honour the sacrifices by ATMIS and Somali security forces in the pursuit of peace and security in Somalia. We applaud the increased focus by the Federal Government of Somalia on the fight against Al-Shabaab, led by the Somali people, the Somali federal member states and the Federal Government. Continued progress towards a Somali-led security sector as it relates to the transition from ATMIS is needed. We observe that hard-won security gains and some setbacks have highlighted the urgency of ensuring current and future operations are based on clear objectives, timelines and resource requirements. We look forward to the Somali-led security conference to be held on 12 December in New York. It presents an important opportunity to review plans for the ATMIS transition, address the Al-Shabaab threat and identify Somalia’s specific security requirements beyond 2024. We urge the international community to continue to work with Somalia to support the development of a truly integrated Somali security sector, the key element of a sustainable transition of security responsibilities envisioned by this resolution.