United Nations (New York)
21 November 2008
document
Somalia ’s Speaker Says Search for Peace Will Not Be Smooth or Quick; Council Debates Outline for Possible Multinational Force, Follow-On Peacekeeping Operation
Despite the recent political progress in Somalia, conditions on the ground continued to deteriorate and coherent international action was needed to stem instability in the East African country, as well as the piracy off its coast, officials of the United Nations and the African Union told the Security Council this morning.
In addition, according to Raisedon Zenenga, Director of the Africa II Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Secretary-General’s proposal for a multinational force meant to relieve the under-manned African Union force in Somalia (AMISOM) and serve as a precursor to a possible United Nations peacekeeping operation had not yet garnered significant pledges of either troops, resources or leadership.
Mr. Zenenga expressed appreciation to the Member States that had committed assets to anti-piracy operations, which were valuable in securing food deliveries for the 3.2 million people of Somalia who were dependent on international assistance. At the same time, he stressed that the piracy and terrorism was only a symptom of the anarchy that reigned in the country.
The approach being used to combat piracy should set an example for a similar coalition with the same level of military capabilities, he said. He appealed for the deployment of the multinational force to stabilize Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu and prepare for a peacekeeping operation to consolidate peace in the country.
Haile Menkerios, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, introduced the Secretary-General’s report and noted that the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities agreement on 25 October in Djibouti between the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia had given the peace process renewed impetus.
However, he said, there was tension within the Transitional Federal Government, and hard-line groups continued to expand their operations within south-central Somalia, which exacerbated the difficulties already faced in delivering much-needed humanitarian assistance. The situation in Somalia remained volatile and the Djibouti process must still deliver improvement in security. “We must, therefore, persevere in our common efforts to ensure sustained support to the peace process,” he concluded.
Somalia’s representative said the leadership of the Transitional Federal Government had clearly demonstrated its commitment to reconciliation with the opposition Alliance and would continue to do so. The greatest challenge to peace and stability in Somalia now was not a lack of political will, but a lack of security. However, the Government had little financial support from the international community to enhance security.
“The search for peace and prosperity in Somalia will not be smooth; nor will full peace be achieved that quickly,” he said. He assured members that the leadership of the Transitional Federal Government would overcome the current constitutional crisis by exercising leadership and wisdom. He urged the regional countries, the African Union, as well as the League of Arab States and the United Nations, to actively support the peace process, cautioning that a “wait and see” attitude was not enough.
The Permanent Observer for the African Union called for support to the Secretary-General’s proposal for a multinational force and called on the Security Council to take the necessary steps to authorize the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Somalia, as a matter of urgency. The Union was making all possible efforts to strengthen AMISOM as it continued to carry out its work on the ground; its member States were called on to contribute additional troops to reach its authorized capacity of 8,000, from the current level of about 3,000 troops from Uganda and Burundi. Piracy, armed robbery, violence, trafficking, abuse of women and children, despair and the threat of terrorism remained symptoms of the decades-long situation.
Speaking on the response to piracy, Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), expressed great concern, not only about the frequency of attacks, but also by their ferocity. A total of 440 acts of piracy and armed robbery had been recorded since statistics had been compiled. This year alone, 120 attacks had been reported, with 35 ships seized and more than 600 seafarers kidnapped. He called on the Security Council to expand authorizations for a swift, coordinated national and international response, and to urge States to establish an effective legal jurisdiction to bring offenders to justice.
In the debate that followed those presentations, speakers welcomed the political agreements between Somali parties, but expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation on the ground, particularly by the attacks against United Nations personnel, and the dire humanitarian situation.
Most speakers urged support for AMISOM, but reaction was mixed to the call for contributions to a multinational force in preparation for a United Nations peacekeeping operation. The conditions for such intervention were just not there, the representative of the Russian Federation stressed, though he maintained that planning for all eventualities should be ongoing. To bring about conditions that would allow a peacekeeping force, many speakers urged Somali leaders to advance the necessary political progress.
Appreciation was expressed around the table for the actions taken against piracy, but many speakers added that the scourge was a result of the instability in Somalia and would not end until a solution to the entire situation was found. Some also called for United Nations coordination of the anti-piracy operations.
Speaking in that debate were the representatives of South Africa, France, Italy, Libya, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Panama, China, Belgium, Croatia, United States, United Kingdom and Costa Rica.
The meeting, which began at 10:30 a.m., concluded at 1 p.m.
Background
The Security Council had before it a report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia (document S/2008/709), in which the Secretary-General applauds the commitment of the Somali parties to the Djibouti process and the significant progress made, as reflected in the agreement on the cessation of armed confrontation, signed on 26 October. He also welcomes the readiness of Ethiopia to withdraw its troops in support of that ceasefire. As the Djibouti process remains open to all parties, he urges all Somalis to join the ongoing process and commit unconditionally to peace. The Addis Ababa agreement signed by the leadership of the Transitional Federal Government on 25 August must be implemented quickly to establish a credible and efficient administration in Mogadishu and its region.
The Secretary-General observes that the deterioration of the security situation, particularly in the south-central regions, poses an immense challenge, not only to reconciliation, but also to the delivery of humanitarian aid. He welcomes the parties’ commitment to establish a mechanism to facilitate and support the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Deeply concerned at the threats issued by some groups to attack aircraft operating from Mogadishu International Airport, he calls upon armed groups to desist from imposing measures that disrupt air traffic.
Welcoming Council resolutions 1816 (2008) and 1838 (2008) on piracy and armed robbery at sea, the Secretary-General commends the efforts of Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide naval escorts for humanitarian vessels, as well as the decision by the European Union to establish a coordination mechanism for those escorts. He welcomes the decisions of the Governments of India and the Russian Federation to cooperate with the Transitional Federal Government to fight piracy and calls upon the international community to also address, in a pragmatic and effective manner, the legal issues relating to persons apprehended while engaged in acts of piracy.
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