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8322nd Security Council Meeting: Situation in Somalia
On the heels of the landmark rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which ended two decades of hostility, the international community must honour its responsibilities to support historic efforts to build peace in the Horn of Africa, the Security Council heard today following a briefing on the recent visit to the region by the Sanctions Committee on Eritrea and Somalia.
Kairat Umarov (Kazakhstan), Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea, welcomed the 9 July signing of the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship by President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, as well as the 28 July visit by Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo to Asmara. Between 14 March and 30 July, its reporting period, the Committee also attended meetings in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia, he said.
Presenting several observations on regional challenges, he noted that all interlocutors described the destabilizing effect of the war in Yemen and warned against a premature withdrawal of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as Somali forces are not yet ready to take on full security responsibilities.
Following his briefing, Ethiopia’s representative hailed the historic move towards peace his country and Eritrea have taken to “turn the page” and end 20 years of conflict.
Eritrea’s representative likewise said the two countries have, through a joint declaration signed today, agreed to exchange ambassadors, forge cooperation in several areas and join hands to address peace and security issues. Wondering why the Council is inexplicably discussing sanctions against his country today, he welcomed the call by several States, including Ethiopia and Somalia, for the measures to be lifted. “The Security Council should not miss another opportunity to contribute positively to regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea,” he said. By lifting sanctions without conditions, the Council can send a positive message that it supports the desire of people in the region to live in peace and economically thrive together.
Indeed, Somalia’s delegate, citing his country’s record of compliance with the sanctions regime, pressed the Council to revise paragraphs 10c and 11a, which allow weapons to flow to Somali security institutions that fall outside the national structure — notably “undefined” Somali security forces and AMISOM strategic partners — without notifying Somali authorities or having proper management processes in place. After decades of war, Somalia’s efforts are slowly bearing fruit, but the country is too often criticized for what it has not yet achieved rather than recognized for its progress. “Our capacity remains at an early stage, but to build it, we require the support and partnership of this Council and its subsidiary bodies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Djibouti’s representative raised concerns about his country’s ongoing border dispute with Eritrea, pressing the Council to urge Eritrea to engage in mediation efforts, as the opportunity to build a future of peace and development in the region cannot be squandered. Welcoming the latest developments regarding the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, he said a study into lost gross domestic product (GDP) due to conflicts in the Horn of Africa would prove the benefits of investing in peace. “Silencing the guns and realizing a conflict‑free Africa is a challenging task, but we should all work in earned and full commitment towards that goal,” he said, describing the people of the Horn of Africa as brave and talented, with a can‑do spirit when given the chance.
The meeting began at 10:25 a.m. and ended at 11:03 a.m.
