The IGAD Summit discusses Sudan and Somalia
The 16th Extraordinary Summit of IGAD Heads of State and Government took place on Tuesday, 23rd November, in Addis Ababa. The Summit was chaired by Prime Minister Meles, current Chairperson of IGAD, and present were President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, President Omar El Bashir of the Sudan, President Ismael Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, and President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, the Chairperson of the IGAD sub-committee on the Sudan, as well as Mr. Yusuf Hassan Ibrahim, representing the President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and Engineer Mahboub Maalim, the Executive Secretary of IGAD. The Summit was preceded by the 38th Extraordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers and was briefed on the progress made in implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in the Sudan since the last IGAD Extraordinary Session held in Nairobi in March this year, by President El Bashir and by Sudan’s First Vice-President Salva Kiir, head of the Government of Southern Sudan; by Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; the Chairperson of the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), Mr. Thabo Mbeki; Sir Derek Plumbly, Chairperson of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC); and by the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Sudan, Mr. Haile Menkerios.
Following these briefings, the Summit had an interactive and fruitful discussion on the efforts being made towards implementation of the outstanding provisions of the CPA and on the progress made. It appreciated the Framework Agreement reached by the two Parties, and was encouraged by their commitment to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means. In this connection, however, the Summit urged the Parties to redouble their efforts to expeditiously resolve the remaining outstanding issues of border demarcation, Abyei and the post referendum arrangements in a spirit of compromise and awareness of the need to guarantee the rights and livelihoods of those affected by these issues. In their communiqué, the Heads of State and Government also underlined the need to have a timely, credible, free, fair and transparent referendum. In this respect the Summit welcomed the commitment by the Parties never to return to war but seek peaceful means to resolve any issues that might divide them. The Heads of State and Government were particularly encouraged by the Parties’ commitment to achieve, in the event of the secession of Southern Sudan, two viable States, living as peaceful and cooperative neighbours, maintaining common security as well as a “soft border” between the North and South to forge cooperation without disruption to the livelihood of the people.
As far as IGAD is concerned, the Summit noted that IGAD should play a leading role at this critical juncture of Sudan's history, in close coordination with all those who are prepared to support the people of the Sudan in their endeavour to resolve the crisis peacefully. The Summit expressed its full commitment to assist the people of the Sudan to move forward irrespective of the outcome of the referendum. In this connection, while expressing their gratitude for the good work done by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), the IGAD Heads of State and Government assured the Chairperson of AUHIP, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, of their full readiness and commitment to support him in his endeavours. They affirmed their full confidence in the leadership of President Omar Hassan El Bashir and of General Salva Kiir to lead Sudan into a new era of peace, irrespective of whether the people of Southern Sudan choose unity or secession. The Summit requested the AUHIP to keep IGAD updated on the progress of negotiations, and mandated the Chairperson of the Assembly to present IGAD's position to the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) at its forthcoming session in Tripoli.
The Summit also discussed current developments and the deteriorating security situation in Somalia, following comprehensive briefings from the Foreign Minister of the TFG, Mr. Yusuf Hassan Ibrahim; from the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and from the Honorable Kipruto Arap Kirwa, IGAD Facilitator for Somalia Peace and Reconciliation. The Summit affirmed the unswerving and continued support of IGAD Member States to the TFIs of Somalia in their endeavour to create peace, security and stability and to put in place the institutions of governance and deliver basic services to the people of Somalia. However, the Heads of State and Government expressed their frustration over the “business as usual” attitude adopted by the Transitional Federal Institutions of Somalia, and called on the TFG leadership to cease its internal squabbles and expedite the formation of the new Cabinet. The Parliamentary session to endorse Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s list of ministers ended in uproar amid a dispute over how the MPs should vote, by secret ballot or in public; the Speaker postponed the session indefinitely.
The Summit urged the TFG to consolidate the recent gains on the ground through the provision of appropriate political leadership. It called upon the presidency and the parliament not only to work together in solidarity but also to ensure a harmonious relationship among the leadership of the two institutions. It urged the TFIs, in close consultations with the Somali people, IGAD and the international community, to carefully examine and provide the appropriate political options before the end of the transitional period, in August next year.
The Summit welcomed the communiqué of the latest AU Peace and Security Council which comprehensively addressed all the aspects of the situation in Somalia, but noted with deep concern that the United Nations Security Council has yet to respond to the request, formally made by the AU Peace and Security Council, to endorse AMISOM’s revised concept of operations and newly authorized strength for 20,000 troops; nor has it yet authorized an enhanced support package for AMISOM funded through UN assessed contributions. The Summit also regretted the failure of the Security Council to impose, as requested by the AU and by IGAD, a naval blockade and a no-fly zone over Somalia to prevent the entry of foreign elements into Somalia, as well as stop flights and shipments carrying weapons and ammunitions to armed groups inside Somalia. The Summit also reiterated the call for the Security Council to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions against all those impeding the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia. The Summit stressed that any further delay in acting on the request of the AU PSC had the potential of undermining ongoing efforts and prospects for achieving lasting peace and reconciliation in Somalia. The IGAD Heads of State and Government instructed IGAD’s Executive Secretary to follow up on these requests from IGAD and from the AU, to encourage the United Nations Security Council to act without delay, and allow AMSIOM to deal with the challenges on the ground in a more robust way. It directed the IGAD Chiefs of Defence Staffs to assess the current situation on the ground and make further recommendations to help the re-organization of the TFG security forces and assist AMISOM to fulfill its mandate.