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Somalia's deteriorating humanitarian situation

UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Condemning the renewed attacks against Somalia’s fledgling unity Government and war-weary civilian population by Al Shabaab and other violent opposition groups, the Security Council today demanded an immediate end to that offensive, saying it would promptly consider what action to take against Eritrea and others providing support to armed groups and foreign fighters undermining the peace and reconciliation process in the strife-torn Horn of Africa country.

 

In a statement (document S/PRST/2009/19) read out by Ruhakana Rugunda (Uganda), its President for July, the Council took note of the appeal by the just-concluded African Union Summit in Sirte, Libya, which called on the 15-nation body to impose sanctions against those, including Eritrea, providing support to the armed groups engaged in undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia, as well as regional stability.

 

“The Security Council is deeply concerned in this regard and will consider expeditiously what action to take against any party undermining the Djibouti peace process, based on all available evidence including that submitted to the Monitoring Group and the Committee established pursuant to Security Council resolution 751(1992),” the statement said.

 

Capping a morning-long debate, the Council reiterated its support for the Djibouti peace process as a framework for a lasting political solution in Somalia, and recognized the Transitional Federal Government as the country’s legitimate authority in the face of fresh rebel attacks aimed at seizing power in the capital, Mogadishu. It reaffirmed its 15 May demand that armed groups and foreign fighters bent on undermining peace and stability immediately end their offensive, put down their arms, renounce violence and join reconciliation efforts.

 

Further by the statement, the Council deplored the loss of life and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Somalia, which had resulted in increased flows of refugees and internally displaced persons, threatening stability in the region. It called on all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular to respect the security of civilians, humanitarian workers and staff of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

 

Commending the contribution of the AMISOM to lasting peace and stability in Somalia, the Council expressed its continued appreciation to the Governments of Uganda and Burundi for committing troops to the Mission, and condemned any hostilities towards AMISOM. In that context, the Council welcomed the decision by the African Union Summit to increase the Mission’s strength to its mandated troop levels, and its call for African Union member States to provide the necessary military and police personnel.

 

Briefing the Council earlier, B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs said the meeting was taking place at a critical time as the situation in Somalia, especially in and around the capital, Mogadishu, remained very fragile. The Transitional Federal Government continued to face “intense pressure” from insurgent forces seeking to seize power with backing from foreign fighters.

 

Recalling that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had reiterated on several occasions that it was time for action on Somalia, he said: “The choice before us is a stark one: either we help the Somali people overcome the current attempt to thwart efforts for peace, or we allow the new unity Government, based on consensus and the Djibouti Accords, to fall to a radical armed opposition.” He added that the Government had attempted to win the hearts and minds of the Somali people and to project a moderate vision of Islam, in keeping with Somali culture. By contrast, Al Shabaab appeared to have intensified its strategy of coercion and intimidation. The group was using targeted assassinations of clan elders and Government officials, as well as harsh punishments for seemingly minor offences, including the decapitation of local community leaders and the dismemberment of a youth suspected of theft.

 

He went on to say that in Mogadishu the ongoing conflict between insurgent groups and Government forces had taken a severe toll on the civilian population, displacing more than 200,000 people since the start of the most recent spate of fighting in early May. Overall, more than 1.3 million people had been internally displaced and the humanitarian situation was being further exacerbated by worsening drought. “We must do all we can to preserve the gains achieved through the Djibouti Agreement […] it is in the international community’s interest to ensure the [Transitional Federal Government] does not collapse.” Action now would avert the inevitably higher price of going in later to deal with the enormous consequences, not only for Somalia but also the entire region.

 

Also briefing the Council, Susana Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, said AMISOM’s current military strength in Mogadishu stood at 4,274 troops from Uganda and Burundi, and emphasized that bringing the force up to its mandated strength of 8,000 personnel was critical to securing key installations and humanitarian supply lines in the capital. Voluntary support for the Mission remained an essential complement to the United Nations logistics support package. As contributions were provided bilaterally, effective coordination was critical.

 

She said the funding available in the United Nations Trust Fund had not been applied to supporting AMISOM owing to the need to ensure the availability of funding to meet requirements not supported by major bilateral contributors. The establishment of the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM in the Nairobi premises of United Nations Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS) had been achieved, the recruitment of international and national staff was ongoing, and important progress had been made with respect to access to Mogadishu for the purpose of building up essential security infrastructure to enable the establishment of a small, rotating presence in the Somali capital. Until security conditions permitted the Support Office to establish a small footprint in Mogadishu, interim oversight mechanisms would continue using United Nations, African Union and contracted personnel.

 

Somalia’s representative said that, while the Djibouti Accord had led to a unity Government, militants unfortunately continued to obstruct peace efforts and threaten the region. On 19 March, Osama bin Laden had declared war against the Transitional Federal Government, and in June, groups of extremists and foreign fighters had launched attacks against the Transitional Government, with the support of Eritrea.

 

In order to enable the Government to take control of the country, the President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, had appealed to the recent African Union Summit to provide it with the necessary support as soon as possible. Moreover, the Summit communique called on the Security Council to take immediate measures, including the imposition of a no-fly zone and a blockade of Somalia’s seaports, to prevent the entry of foreign fighters. Somalia reiterated its request that AMISOM become part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission as soon as possible.

 

Several members of the Council expressed concern about the sharp up-tick in internal displacement, while others warned of the increasing number of non-Somali fighters entering the country. The representative of the United States said the Somali Government must be supported in its efforts to end the violence, lest the country become a lasting safe haven and training ground for those plotting terrorist attacks around the world. “If these extremists are successful, we will lose another generation of Somalis to war and poverty,” she pointed out. “The people of Somalia have suffered far too much for far too long.”

 

Decrying the lack of serious political will to help Somalia consolidate peace, Libya’s representative said a golden opportunity had been missed following the election of President Sharif and the formation of the new Transitional Federal Government. The international community’s reticence had emboldened the opposition, and the time had come for the Council to take the necessary measures to prevent access by Somali opposition forces to weapons, funds and foreign fighters. There should be support for the establishment of a national army, and for assistance to help the Government establish control over the country. That could only be done through the transformation of AMISOM into a United Nations mission as soon as possible.