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STORY: UN / SOMALIA
TRT: 3:44
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 OCTOBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Various shots, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
03 OCTOBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“We look forward to closely working with the Federal Government to implement the transition, and to continuing the United Nations’ support for Somalia’s national priorities once a mandate is received from this Council.
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“The United Nations is committed to supporting Somalia to address technical, logistical and other challenges and to mobilize financial support from donors to deliver timely and credible elections.”
6. Med shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“The United Nations continues to support the Federal Government on these activities, working closely with the African Union and other partners. The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) continues to enable the ATMIS drawdown while fulfilling its ongoing support responsibilities. The lifting of the arms embargo on the national government has facilitated its access to additional weapons and supplies, and I remind other entities operating in Somalia of the requirement to respect the arms embargo established by resolution 2713.”
8. Med shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) James Swan, Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“I underscore the condemnation issued by the Secretary-General of such attacks and reiterate the United Nations’ support to the Government and people of Somalia as they stand against terrorism and violent extremism. I also note with concern the increased presence and activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh).”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS):
“Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia persist since January 2024. I therefore welcome the ongoing efforts to address the dispute between the two countries, and I look forward to an outcome that embodies the principles of sovereignty, respect for territorial integrity and adherence to international law key to promoting peace and security, as well as effective cooperation and development.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS):
“The growing risk of infiltration and collaboration between Al-Shabaab and the Houthi is a considerable security challenge, threatening regional stability in the Horn of Africa, as well as maritime navigation and the shipping routes in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the channel of Mozambique.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Ilwad Elman, The Elman Peace & Human Rights Centre:
“Civil society organizations in Somalia play a crucial role in fostering trust and cooperation between military forces and local communities. Therefore, engaging CSOs in early recovery efforts such as delivering essential services like water, sanitation, healthcare and education is paramount. We know this to significantly reduce community reprisals compared to military led initiatives.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Moallin Fiqi Ahmed, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Somalia:
“We look forward to working together on a new mission for the next two years, on gradual transition to UN country team and achieving the priorities articulated in Somalia's letter to the Council in August 2024.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Ahmed Moallin Fiqi Ahmed, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Somalia:
“As a landlocked nation, Ethiopia has no right to claim Somalia’s territory for the establishment of a Naval Military Base. Such action is a violation of international law and a threat to a regional stability.”
20. Wide shot, Security Council
The chief of the UN mission in Somalia (UNSOM) James Swan said that the mission will work closely with the Federal Government to implement the transition from UNSOM to a UN country team and to continuing its support to Somalia’s national priorities once a mandate is received from this Council.
The Acting Special Representative for Somalia briefed the Council today (03 Oct) on the situation in the country.
On elections, Swan noted that the transition from the previous indirect electoral system to the planned new system of universal suffrage will require broad and inclusive consultations, and a willingness of all stakeholders to engage in dialogue in order to build political consensus. He welcomed the meeting of the National Consultative Council.
He said that the adoption of implementable electoral laws and the establishment of an independent elections commission will be important indicators of progress toward delivering universal suffrage elections.
Swan stressed, “The United Nations is committed to supporting Somalia to address technical, logistical and other challenges and to mobilize financial support from donors to deliver timely and credible elections.”
The fight against Al-Shabaab continues to be the key security priority for the Government of Somalia, the Mission’s chief reiterated, adding that while making commendable efforts to sustain military operations against Al Shabaab, Somalia is at the same time tackling the challenges of force generation; taking over security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS); planning the transition to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM); and implementing crucial stabilisation programmes in recovered areas.
“The United Nations continues to support the Federal Government on these activities, working closely with the African Union and other partners,” Swan reiterated.
He continued, “The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) continues to enable the ATMIS drawdown while fulfilling its ongoing support responsibilities.”
The Acting Special Representative continued, “ The lifting of the arms embargo on the national government has facilitated its access to additional weapons and supplies, and I remind other entities operating in Somalia of the requirement to respect the arms embargo established by resolution 2713.”
Al-Shabaab continues to demonstrate its disregard for civilian life, through its use of indirect fire on population centres, mainly Mogadishu and Baidoa, the use of improvised explosive devices, and suicide attacks against civilians, including the heinous 2 August attack on the Lido Beach in Mogadishu.
Swan underscored the condemnation issued by the Secretary-General of such attacks and reiterated the United Nations’ support to the Government and people of Somalia as” they stand against terrorism and violent extremism.”
He also note with concern the increased presence and activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh).
Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) briefed the Council via a video link.
He welcomed the ongoing efforts to address the dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, and looks forward to “an outcome that embodies the principles of sovereignty, respect for territorial integrity and adherence to international law key to promoting peace and security, as well as effective cooperation and development.”
Souef also said, “The growing risk of infiltration and collaboration between Al Shabat and the Houthi is a considerable security challenge, threatening regional stability in the Horn of Africa, as well as maritime navigation and the shipping routes in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the channel of Mozambique.”
For her part, Ilwad Elman told Council members that “Civil society organizations in Somalia play a crucial role in fostering trust and cooperation between military forces and local communities.”
She reiterated, “engaging CSOs in early recovery efforts such as delivering essential services like water, sanitation, healthcare and education is paramount. We know this to significantly reduce community reprisals compared to military led initiatives.”
Foreign Minister of Somalia Ahmed Moallin Fiqi Ahmed told the Council that his country looks forward to “working together on a new mission for the next two years, on gradual transition to UN country team and achieving the priorities articulated in Somalia's letter to the Council in August 2024.”
Ahmed also reiterated, “As a landlocked nation, Ethiopia has no right to claim Somalia’s territory for the establishment of a Naval Military Base. Such action is a violation of international law and a threat to a regional stability.”
