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Situation in Somalia - 8755th Meeting of Security Council
With elections slated for November delayed due to COVID-19, Somalia is at a critical juncture, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council today, pressing federal and state leaders to agree on voting modalities and bolster the capacity of national security forces meant to assume responsibilities in 2021.
“We understand that there are strongly held divergent views among the leaders and political tensions are high in this pre-electoral period,” said James Swan, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. “Yet, it is precisely during such moments that it is most necessary for the nation’s leaders to engage in dialogue.”
He described a dilemma whereby Parliament must be elected through universal direct suffrage, according to the Provisional Federal Constitution. But the Constitution also stipulates that parliamentary elections must be held every four years — meaning that elections are due by the end of November. It is impossible to satisfy both requirements, he said.
In an effort to reach a compromise, Somali leaders convened in Dhusamareeb this week, he said, commending Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo” and the presidents of the federal member states of Galmudug, Hirshabelle and South West for their participation. “It is incumbent on Somalia’s leaders to rise to this moment in history and pursue agreement in the national interest,” he asserted.
On the security front, he described a “worrying upsurge” in Al-Shabaab attacks, particularly in Mogadishu, drawing attention to the 16 August assault on the Elite Hotel. Somalia is to take the lead on its security matters in 2021, and while the Federal Government has completed a concept note for updating the Transition Plan, force generation has faced setbacks in meeting 2020 projections, due to COVID-19.
Francisco Madeira, African Union Special Representative, agreed that collaboration among federal and state leaders — if harnessed — can unlock the potential of Somalis. He commended the personal efforts of the President and top state officials who laid the groundwork for the Dhusamareeb process.
Underscoring the importance of these meetings, he said “they should cease to be historical developments” and instead, “be made to repeat themselves at such a frequency that they become normal events”, uniting leaders in a common purpose to make the country a better place for all Somalis. “The Dhusamareeb process deserves our unwavering support.”
For its part, the African Union, through its mission in Somalia, will continue to secure the process and offer its political support, he said. African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) police, which will play a key role in election security, are training their Somali counterparts on the mapping tools used in election security threat assessment. He pointed to the lack of Somali security forces to take over areas currently under AMISOM control as a pressing issue that must be tackled, as the Mission’s ability to target Al-Shabaab is hampered by its need to continue protecting towns already liberated.
In the ensuing dialogue, delegates agreed that Somalia is at a critical juncture amid significant electoral delays and incomplete security arrangements. Broad agreement among major stakeholders will be needed to chart a viable way forward.
South Africa’s representative, also speaking for Niger, Tunisia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, reiterated the need for a “one person, one vote” system and for the resolution of electoral issues. He welcomed the identification of two possible election options and urged national stakeholders to reach a timely, consensus-based decision as soon as possible.
France’s delegate said elections should be held as soon as possible in early 2021, describing Parliament’s removal of the President in a vote that did not comply with international rules as “not conducive to reconciliation”. Calling on Somalia, the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union to bolster support for the security sector post-2021, she called for a more transactional approach to be taken in these talks. Benchmarks outlined in resolution 2520 (2020) must be met, she assured.
China’s delegate highlighted the elimination of terrorism as another priority, stressing that international support is needed to build the capacity of national security forces.
On that point, the Russian Federation’s delegate said the fight against extremists is hampered by the shortage of helicopters for AMISOM and dearth of progress made in restoring local administration in liberated areas. He called AMISOM “the linchpin” in efforts to fight extremism, and given its phased closure, it is important to build the capacity of the Somali National Army. He objected to efforts to forcibly push through the drawdown.
Offering the national perspective, Somalia’s delegate outlined progress in the lead-up to planned “one person, one vote” parliamentary elections, underscoring the Government’s determination to facilitate their success. “The challenge for Somalia has been the monopolization of legitimate power by a few at the expense of the Somali people,” he said, pointing to those who still seek to derail the democratic process “with a narrow focus on old, broken exclusive politics”.
Spoilers cannot be tolerated at this critical moment, he warned, urging Somalia’s international partners not to give in to such pressures.
Also speaking were representatives of the United Kingdom, Belgium, Dominican Republic, United States, Estonia, Viet Nam, Germany and Indonesia.
The meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 11:55 a.m.
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