Yesterday’s UN mini-Summit on Somalia
UN Secretary-General, Ban ki-Moon, took advantage of the UN General Assembly to convene a mini-Summit on Somalia yesterday [23rd Sep]. It was attended by some 35 countries and organizations including IGAD states, except Eritrea. Eritrea did not participate because it was felt inappropriate for it to participate in a Summit on Somalia when it was under UN sanctions for its behaviour in supporting terrorism in Somalia and for its destabilization activities in the Horn of Africa.
The meeting reaffirmed that the Djibouti Agreement and Peace Process were the basis for resolution of the conflict in Somalia, and the determination of the United Nations and the international community to work with the TFIs and the people of Somalia to break the cycle of lawlessness and violence. It noted that collective and coordinated action was crucial to building a peaceful future for the Somali people. It called on the TFI leaders to complete the remaining transitional tasks by August 2011, noting that the constitution-making process should include consultation within Somalia and in the Diaspora. It identified priority tasks including agreement on post-transitional arrangements in coordination with the UN and the international community; reaching out to opposition groups that have renounced violence and expanding the political base of the TFG; and improving the delivery and access to basic services.
At the same time, participants called for a roadmap of achievable objectives and clear time-lines to be developed for the remainder of the transitional period. It underlined the need for the TFG leadership to maintain cohesion and resolve any internal differences. They welcomed the TFG’s pledges to continue its outreach efforts, its undertakings to end internal disputes, finalize the draft constitution without delay, ensure integration of security forces including those of Ahlu Suna wal Jama’a into the national army, and improve the command and control of the armed forces. The meeting commended the efforts of the AU and IGAD to achieve stabilization and expressed its appreciation of Uganda and Burundi for the provision of troops for AMISOM.
The meeting drew attention to the need for UN agencies to improve their internal coordination and effectiveness in Somalia. It encouraged UNPOS to establish a UN presence in Mogadishu, Puntland and in Somaliland. The meeting condemned all attacks on humanitarian aid workers including Al-Shabaab’s expulsion, on 16th September, of aid organizations. It condemned the terrorist attacks in Kampala in July and the repeated attacks on civilians, on the TFG and on AMISOM. These have resulted in substantial population displacements and aggravated the humanitarian crisis.
Participants noted that political and security gains needed to be supported by effective reconstruction activities. Recalling that the Istanbul Declaration noted six priority areas for intervention, it welcomed the Task Force formed after the Istanbul Conference earlier in the year. The International Contact Group on Somalia will also be meeting in Madrid next week, and is expected to continue to discuss these issues.