The 586th meeting of the AUPSC on the situation in Somalia

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 586th meeting held on 31 March 2016, received an update on the situation in Somalia.

Council took note of the update provided by the AU Commission, on the situation in Somalia. Council also took note of the statements made by the representatives of Somalia, Ethiopia (in its capacity as Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)), Egypt, Senegal, Italy (co-Chair of IGAD Partners Forum), China, France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as well as by the League of Arab States, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU).

Council recalled its previous pronouncements on the situation in Somalia, particularly communiqué PSC/PR/COMM. (DLXXIX) adopted at its 579th meeting held on 29 February 2016.

Council, while reiterating its serious concern about the financial gap caused by the untimely 20% EU funding cut to AMISOM, as well as its previous calls for the UN to utilize assessed contributions to bridge the resultant funding gap, once again, emphasized that, in line with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, in deploying AMISOM in a particularly challenging environment, the AU is acting on behalf of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Council welcomed the outcomes of the meeting of the AU-UN Joint Task Force held on 22 March 2016, in New York, USA, and looks forward to the speedy implementation of the outcomes of the meeting.

Council, once again, urged the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and all other Somali stakeholders, working in a spirit of inclusiveness and national unity, to show the necessary commitment and to spare no efforts in ensuring the full and urgent implementation of Vision 2016, including its commitments to the Djibouti Declaration adopted by the Summit of the Troop and Police Contributing Countries (TCCs/PCCs), held on 28 February 2016, as well as the outcomes of the High-Level Partnership Forum for Somalia, held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 23 to 24 February 2016. In the same spirit, Council stressed the need for the FGS to ensure that the elections scheduled for August and September 2016 are held in line with a consensual electoral model.

Council underscored the need for the FGS to ensure that the people of Somalia enjoy the peace dividends in areas liberated from Al Shabaab, including through the provision of basic public services and implementation of quick impact and peace strengthening projects. In the same context, Council stressed the need for enhancing the capacity of the Somali national defence and security forces,  bearing in mind that they will eventually have to take full and effective control of areas liberated from Al Shabaab, in order to prevent the return of those areas back into the hands of the terrorist group. In this context, Council reiterated the imperative need for enhanced adherence to the command and control structure of AMISOM, in line with the Declaration of the Djibouti Summit of the TCCs/PCCs.

Council expressed serious concern over the reports of continuous shipment of arms for non-state actors in Somalia, in violation of the existing UN arms embargo. In this regard, Council requested the Commission, in collaboration with the UN Monitoring Group to urgently undertake thorough investigations and to submit the findings to the Council.

Council, deeply concerned about the prevailing humanitarian situation, which has been compounded by the El-Nino-related drought, appealed to the international community and to humanitarian agencies to enhance their assistance to the population in need.

Council reiterated its appeal to the international community to continue to provide the necessary support to the FGS and its institutions, in order to consolidate the gains made and facilitate the completion of the transition process. Furthermore, Council underscored the importance of coordinated efforts, under the leadership of the AU, in order to avoid duplications and to further enhance synergies on the ground.

Council re-affirmed the AU’s commitment to continue to assist the FGS in its preparations for the elections, as well as in the stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Somalia. Council further re-affirmed its continued support to the tireless efforts of the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission and AMISOM Head of Mission.