Fed Govt and member states adopt PCVE strategy ahead of security meeting

Information Minister Abdirahman Yarisow (L) and Swedish Ambassador to Somalia Andreas von Uexkull (C) during the PCVE second meeting in Mogadishu Nov 28, 2017. Photo: courtesy

The Federal Government and Federal Member States Tuesday adopted the revised national strategy on preventing and countering violent extremist ahead of the security conference next week in Mogadishu.

During the second Comprehensive Approaches to Security meeting co-chaired by the Federal Government and Sweden, the parties also set out a working plan for the next six months to implement the Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) strategy.

“Today’s meeting was a key milestone where it was the second high level meeting on Strand Four and we have agreed today and adopted the revised national strategy for preventing and countering violent extremism,” Information Minister Abdirahman Yarisow said.

The Minister noted the meeting also agreed on the action plan and progress report which will be presented by the co-chairs (Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Guled and Swedish Ambassador Andreas von Uexkull) in the upcoming December 4 security conference in Mogadishu. The conference is a follow to the London Conference which had initially agreed on October for donors to make financial commitments to fund the National Security Architecture.

Ambassador von Uexkull said the adoption of the strategy was a remarkable progress in realizing the Strand Four objectives. “We agreed on the work- plan for the next six months and I have been truly impressed by all the action plans all the member states and the Federal Government have developed.”

The Comprehensive Approach to Security Strand 4 was launched October 7.

Somalia inks pact to counter violent extremism

PCVE is a component of the Comprehensive Approaches to Security (CAS) which forms part of the Security Pact agreed to during the London Conference in May.

“The role of Strand 4 is to support operationalizing the National Strategy and Action Plan and facilitate the implementation of the National Strategy that addresses prevention and countering of violent extremism from reconciliation, countering narratives, and implementing a curriculum that promotes peacefulness of Islam,” Yarisow said.

The minister said the government had put together a technical working group consisting of focal points from 8 line ministers that have a role on strand four. This will also include focal points from the FMS and Banaadir, the Minister said. Others include representatives from the office of the Defectors Program, Office of the Prime Minister and the office of the President

Office of the Prime Minister will oversee the coordination role from Somalia side, while Sweden will lead the coordination from international partners.