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Situation in Somalia - 8731st Security Council Meeting
Permanent Representative Urges External Actors to Stop Meddling in Internal Affairs, as United States Questions Election Models
One-person-one-vote elections in Somalia later in 2020 will be a historic milestone along that country’s long road back to security, stability and prosperity, briefers told the Security Council today, while emphasizing that success will depend on its Federal Government, federal member states and other stakeholders embracing dialogue to tackle its myriad challenges, including the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab.
“There is so much to do in the year ahead,” said James Swan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). “Only by working together — as Somalis, as partners and in a spirit of unity and compromise — will progress be made.” Describing 2020 as a potentially transformative year, he warned that progress on political, security, economic and humanitarian issues is at stake if the lack of consultations between President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo” and other political leaders drags on.
He went on to state that the upcoming elections will be a critical test of Somalia’s progress. While the enactment of a new electoral code — which the President signed into law by last week — is an important step, it fails to address many issues, including guarantees that 30 per cent of parliamentary seats will be set aside for women, he noted. On the security front, he said that with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) committed to reducing its troop strength by the end of this month, the Federal Government must generate the military strength required to combat the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, which retains the ability to mount large-scale attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere.
Also briefing was Francisco Caetano José Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Head of AMISOM, who agreed that 2020 is crucial in terms of delivering national priorities, including elections, and meeting debt-relief benchmarks. Urging the international community to remain engaged, he said that multifaceted interactions — including between the Federal Government and federal member states — will unlock the country’s immense capacity for reconciliation.
Expressing concern about the slow generation of Somali security forces, he emphasized that AMISOM’s withdrawal of 1,000 troops by the end of February is a mismatch with needs on the ground. He urged the Council — which renewed AMISOM’S mandate for one year on 31 May 2019 (see Press Release SC/13828) — to reflect on the reality in the Mission’s theatre of operations and to consider additional measures that would step up the pressure against Al-Shabaab.
A third briefer, Dan Smith of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, warned that floods and drought could undermine peacebuilding efforts in Somalia. Summarizing the findings of the Institute’s 2019 report on climate change and peace operations, he explained that severe weather events create recruitment opportunities for Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. He went on to recommend a greater focus by UNSOM and the United Nations country team on improving coordination between the Federal Government and humanitarian and security actors, declaring: “The case of Somalia shows us the future of peacekeeping.”
In the ensuing debate, Council members concurred on the pressing need to enhance dialogue and strengthen Somalia’s ability to confront Al-Shabaab if 2020 is to produce meaningful progress for the Horn of Africa country.
Tunisia’s representative — speaking also on behalf of Niger, South Africa and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — urged the Federal Government and the federal member states to reach a political agreement and build consensus on key national priorities. Timely and peaceful elections in 2020 are of the utmost importance, he emphasized. On the security front, he expressed deep concern about the threat posed by Al-Shabaab, reiterating steadfast support for the Somali National Army and calling upon the international community to provide the necessary assistance. He also called for urgent humanitarian assistance for Somalia in light of the current locust invasion.
The representative of the United States warned, however, that some electoral models under consideration could exclude key communities or provide a pretext for delaying the vote. He urged the Federal Government and federal member states to work together to keep the elections on track for 2020 and to agree on a practical model for peaceful, timely, inclusive and credible elections.
Somalia’s representative called upon all external actors — especially those in the region mandated by the Security Council — to stop interfering in his country’s domestic affairs. Somalia should not be defined by what it has been, but what it can be, he emphasized. He went on to say that insufficient resources are preventing the otherwise courageous Somali military from gaining the edge over its enemies, adding that going forward, the country requires concerted efforts to preserve the gains it has achieved. “I would like to assure you today that we are bound and will respect the principle of holding elections on time and the peaceful and orderly transfer of power,” he stressed.
Also speaking were representatives of the United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Russian Federation, Germany, China, France, Indonesia, Estonia, Viet Nam and Belgium.
The meeting began at 3:04 p.m. and ended at 4:55 p.m.
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