Somalia:

The Security Council hears the Secretary-General’s latest report

Al-Shabaab’s Ramadan failure

Ambassador Mahiga visits Addis Ababa

Eritrean tactics, Eritrean strategy: No change  

Eritrea’s latest effort to destabilize the Somali Regional State

Ambassador Lyman, US analysts and control of aid

The colourful celebration of National Flag Day

_{The Core Principles of Ethiopia's Foreign Policy: Ethiopia-China (PRC) relations}

The Security Council hears the Secretary-General’s latest report

Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon’s latest report on Somalia was presented to the Security Council on Thursday this week. The report, an update on the situation in Somalia since the Secretary-General’s last report in May, underlined the tensions within the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) over the last few months. He appealed, as TFG partners have done, to Government and Parliament to resolve their political disputes. The report noted that the Federal Constitution Commission had continued to work on the draft constitution and this was expected to be issued in December. The transition period ends next year and the Secretary-General expressed concern that there had been so little progress with the transitional agenda. Security remained a major issue. There had been an increase in insecurity in Mogadishu and the security situation in Puntland had become more volatile. Somaliland remained stable. In areas controlled by Al-Shabaab, UNPOS had received reports of nine executions by firing squad or by stoning as well as five cases of amputation, 28 floggings and 7 cases of beheading. The Secretary-General noted that UNPOS was in the process of deploying a full-time presence in Hargeisa (Somaliland) and in Garowe (Puntland). The UN Support Office for AMISOM was about to begin construction of offices and accommodation. It has improved living conditions for AMISOM troops, but there were still substantial resource gaps which affected AMISOM’s performance. The Secretary-General thought that the support package for AMISOM should be identical to that provided for UN peacekeeping operations. He reiterated his commitment to ensure maximum co-ordination of UN operations in Somalia and his intention to establish an integrated UN presence there.

 The Security Council was also briefed by Ambassador Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of UNPOS. Ambassador Mahiga, who introduced the Secretary-General’s report, said he had had consultations with various stakeholder including the TFG and Ahlu Suna wal Jama’a as well as regional and international bodies. There was serious concern over the lack of cohesion in the TFG. He had urged the TFG to reach out to more groups committed to peace and expand the political process as well as focus on delivering basic services. He commended AMISOM and urged the international community to scale up its support. AMISOM’s defensive capabilities should be strengthened and the TFG’s security capacity developed. He appealed to member states to fill the gaps in AMISOM’s material and financial support, and said AMISOM troops allowances should match those paid under UN operations.

 For Somalia, Elmi Ahmed Duale also underlined the need for continued support and stressed the links between instability on land, acts of terrorism and piracy. Root causes must be addressed. He expressed concern about the constant negative and hostile media coverage of AMISOM, the TFG and the UN. It was, he said, coverage designed to support the efforts to destabilize Somalia. Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Moses Wetang’ula, told the Security Council it was important to recognize the centrality of the regional body, IGAD, to help resolve the issues of Somalia. The region remained nervous about the proliferation of initiatives and meetings, coupled with the lack of will from the international community. IGAD, he noted, had already and consistently encouraged the TFG to reach out. He hoped the Council would enforce some of the decisions taken by IGAD, including the matter of targeted sanctions, addressing among other matters the airfields and ports in Al-Shabaab hands. He urged the Council to formulate a robust communications strategy to counter Al-Shabaab propaganda. The end of the Transitional Charter also needed to be addressed.           

 In discussions, Security Council members made clear the need for all parties to participate in the Djibouti Peace Process, and for the TFG to strengthen the reconciliation efforts and resolve its internal differences. There was strong welcome for TFG co-operation with Ahlu Suna wal Jama’a and regional administrations. Members paid tribute to AMISOM and those who supported it. The US emphasized its support for the Mission and called upon other countries to participate. Others also emphasized the need for more assistance for AMISOM. The lack of “comprehensive, coherent, predictable and sustainable support to AMISOM and the TFG security forces was of major concern”. There were a number of calls for AMISOM forces to have parity of pay with UN peacekeepers. Members expressed their concerns over piracy and several speakers reminded all parties of their liabilities and obligations under international law over human rights abuse. China called on all countries in the region to support the TFG, to facilitate reconciliation. Others specifically emphasized their support for the targeted use of existing sanctions to help staunch the flow of arms and build stability in Somalia, including the need for implementation of Security Council Resolution 1907 to be effectively monitored.

Click here to read the full report

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