S/PV.9708 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/2024/609, which contains 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 2748 (2024). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Somalia in our meeting. The United Kingdom is grateful to all the members of the Security Council for their constructive engagement with the negotiations on resolution 2748 (2024). The resolution comes at a critical moment in Somalia’s security transition. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia will draw down by 31 December, and the African Union Peace and Security Council has endorsed the formation of a successor mission. The United Kingdom will continue to work with Council members and international stakeholders to ensure that momentum on Somalia’s security transition is maintained. In October, the Council will convene to discuss a progress update with the African Union, Somalia and the United Nations. Then, on 15 November, the Council will receive the report requested in this resolution, enabling informed decision-making on the difficult but critical issues of the proposed successor mission’s mandate and financing model. We look forward to maintaining our close collaboration as the Council in support of the next stage of Somalia’s security transition.

We too would like to acknowledge the presence of the Somali representative. The United States was pleased to vote in favour of extending the mandate of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). We appreciate the constructive efforts of our United Kingdom colleagues as the penholder and of all our colleagues to complete the negotiations on this mandate. Above all, we recognize and honour the sacrifices by ATMIS and Somali security forces in pursuit of peace and security in Somalia. We applaud Somalia’s continued commitment to the fight against Al-Shabaab. We fully support Somalia’s goal of assuming greater responsibility for its own security as soon as possible and recognize that ATMIS and an anticipated Security Council-mandated and African Union-led follow-on peace support operation have vital roles in supporting that goal. We further recognize the efforts that the African Union and the Federal Government of Somalia made to develop and deliver the ATMIS strategic concept of operations. A mission to protect vital strategic locations and critical infrastructure is critical, and completing detailed planning on the scope, tasks and financing for the mission is urgent. Through our vote today, the United States reaffirms its support for ATMIS and its anticipated follow-on mission as vitally important to the stability of Somalia and the region. We acknowledge a challenging road ahead, especially when it comes to financial support for the successor mission. We have been consistent, and want to clarify today, that resolution 2719 (2023) can be realistically implemented only after instituting an interim bridging approach over the next two years and provided that the African Union is ready to implement it Our goal is to avoid prematurely authorizing a resolution 2719 (2023) mission for Somalia without the required budgetary, accountability and human rights frameworks — that could risk undermining this promising new peacekeeping approach for Africa before it can get established. We need to keep those factors in mind as we consider the upcoming authorization mandate for the ATMIS successor mission later this year. As a result of the adoption of today’s resolution 2748 (2024), ATMIS will continue reducing the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and continue in supporting the development of an integrated Somali security force capable of assuming progressively greater security responsibilities.

I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

As my delegation takes the floor for the first time under your presidency, I am pleased to offer you, Mr. President, our heartfelt congratulations not only for the assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month, but also for the skill and leadership you have demonstrated in this important function. My delegation welcomes the adoption of resolution 2748 (2024) and takes this opportunity to thank the members of the Security Council for their continued commitment to helping Somalia in defeating Al-Shabaab and achieving sustainable peace. We recognize the necessity of extending the resolution on the Africana Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) until December 2024 to ensure a smooth transition as we prepare for the post-ATMIS security arrangement in 2025. It is imperative to commit to the required support to enable the Somali national forces and ATMIS to continue their vital work. That collaborative effort is crucial as we work towards a successful transition to the new peacekeeping framework. In that regard, I would like to raise the following points. First, the Federal Government of Somalia is engaged in high-tempo offensive operations against Al-Shabaab while working on building capable, inclusive and accountable security forces. That continued effort demands substantial technical assistance and logistical support to enhance the capacity and the capability of Somali security forces in order to assume full security responsibility and pave the way for the African Union Mission’s drawdown and its eventual exit from Somalia. Simultaneously, it is crucial to harmonize coordination and coherence on international assistance to the Somali security sector. While we welcome input for the next security arrangement post-ATMIS from key partners, we also want to underscore that the formation of the next mission should be guided by the needs and aspirations of the Somali people, as represented by the Federal Government of Somalia. Secondly, unfortunately, in the landscape of peacekeeping operations and timely and efficient drawdowns and transitions, we have witnessed delays in nearly all phases of the drawdowns. Therefore, coordination between troop-contributing countries (TCCs) and United Nations contractors is paramount in that process. Effective collaborations not only facilitate the safe and orderly withdrawal of peacekeeping forces, but they also minimize the potential disruptions that could arise during that critical phase. We encourage improved communication and establishing clear protocols among TCCs, the United Nations and contractors to avoid future delays that might compromise the mission’s objective and the safety of all involved. The Somali Government stands ready to assist in enhancing those collaborative efforts, while ensuring that the drawdown is executed seamlessly and with the utmost respect for the communities. Thirdly, my delegation expresses its deep concern regarding recent smuggling of sizable illegal weapons from a troop-contributing neighbouring country into Somalia. The Somali Government is investigating last month’s incident and will share the outcome in due course. The proliferation of weapons poses a significant threat to peace and security in Somalia by fuelling clan conflicts and empowering Al-Shabaab. The recent Al-Shabaab attack on Lido Beach in Mogadishu on 3 August, which killed over 30 people and injured more than 60 innocent civilians, demonstrates Al-Shabaab’s ability to exploit the foreign illegal arms flow in Somalia to attack soft targets. Furthermore, the ramifications of the proliferation of arms extend beyond Somalia, destabilizing neighbouring countries and impacting regional security as a whole. We must acknowledge that addressing the issue requires a coordinated response. In that regard, I stress the need for all Member States, including neighbouring countries, to comply with the arms embargo on Al-Shabaab and to work collaboratively in restricting the arms flow and other logistical support to Al-Shabaab. In conclusion, Somalia reaffirms its dedication to work with the African Union, the United Nations and other international partners in the ongoing effort to foster lasting peace and development in my country. We look forward to working together to ensure a seamless ATMIS transition and taking over full security responsibility for our country from the African Union Mission.