The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at
its 392nd meeting held on 26 August 2013, was briefed by the Special
Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission, Head of the AU Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM), on the situation in Somalia and the operations of AMISOM on
the ground. Council also followed the statements made by the representative of the
Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), as well as by those of the Republic of Kenya,
the Intergovernmental Authority on Development(IGAD), the European Union
(EU),the League of Arab States, the United Nations (UN), through its Special
Representative for Somalia, France, United Kingdom, United States of America
and Rwanda, in their capacity as members of the UN Security Council, and the
Chair of the IGAD Partner Forum(IPF).
Council recalled that, over the past two years, tremendous
progress has been made in the peace and reconciliation processin Somalia, as
demonstrated by the security gains recorded on the ground and the successful
conclusion of the Transition and the establishment of a new political
dispensation. Council, once again, commended the Somali stakeholders for these achievements.
Council reiterated the primary responsibility of the Somali
stakeholders in achieving lasting peace and reconciliation in their country.
Council called on them to demonstrate selfless leadership and commitment to the
higher interest of their country, stressing that no amount of external
assistance can substitute Somali‐led efforts. In this respect, Council
underlined the importance of inclusive dialogue among the Somali stakeholders
and sustained efforts towards National reconciliation, asthe only way to
sustain the remarkable achievements made, at great sacrifices, by the Somali
National Security Forces(SNSF) and AMISOM and fulfill the aspirations of the
people of Somalia for a country at peace with itself and with its neighbors.
Council welcomed the on‐going discussions, in Addis Ababa,
under the auspices of the IGAD Chair, Ethiopia, between the FGS and Juba region
stakeholders, and commended the Facilitator, the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, for his sustained efforts. Council stressed the
imperative for the Parties to extend full cooperation to IGAD and show the required
flexibility and spirit of compromise, in order to expeditiously reach an
agreement. Council requested the IGAD Facilitator to keep it constantly
informed of the evolution of the discussions, in order to enable it take decisions
on the matter, as appropriate. Council encouraged the convening of the larger
reconciliation conference in Mogadishu, as agreed upon at the 22nd
extraordinary session of the IGADAssembly of Heads of State and Government held
in Addis Ababa, on 24 May 2013.
Council expressed grave concern about the deteriorating
security situation in some parts of Somalia. Council condemned the recent
Al‐Shabaab terrorist activities that have resulted in the loss of innocent
civilian lives and destruction of property. Against this background, and
bearing in mind the operational limitsfacing AMISOM and the SNSF, Council reiterated
the need and urgency to mobilize further support, for both the Mission and the
SNSF, to enable themPSC/PR/BR.2(CCCXCII) undertake further expansion operations
as envisaged in the AU‐UN Strategic Concept for future operations in Somalia.
In this regard, Council, as indicated in paragraph 11 of communiqué PSC/PR/COMM(CCCLXXIX),
adopted at its 79th meeting, held on 13 June 2013, looks forward to the
benchmarking exercise that will be undertaken by the UN Secretariat and the AU Commission
in the context of paragraph 19 of UN Security Council resolution 2093 (2013).
Council expressed the hope that the exercise would result
into concrete and action‐oriented recommendations for the enhancement of the
capacity of AMISOM and the SNSF, in particular with regard to force enablers
and multipliers, to create conditions that would make it possible to deploy, in
due course, a UN operation to support the long‐term stabilization and reconstruction
of Somalia.
Council, having emphasized, once again, the need for a
coordinated action of the international community and renewed efforts to
consolidate the gains made so far, welcomed the planned convening in Brussels,
on 16 September 2013, of a High‐Level Conference on A New Deal for Somalia,
co‐hosted by Somalia and the EU, with the underlying objective to sustain the
positive momentum in Somalia, to ensure that the country stays on the path to
stability and peace, and brings prosperity to its people.
Council commended, once again, AMISOM for its outstanding
contribution to the improvement of the security situation in Somalia, the
stabilization of the country and furtherance of the reconciliation process.
Council reiterated its appreciation to AMISOM troop and police contributing
countries– TCCs and PCCs (Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda, Nigeria and the countries
providing individual police officers), as well asto Ethiopia, for their
commitment and sacrifices. Council welcomed the convening of the Kampala Summit
of 4 August 2013, which brought together the TCCs and PCCs, Ethiopia and
Somalia. Council also reiterated its appreciation to IGAD for its continued and
active contribution to the quest of peace and reconciliation in Somalia.
Council, once more, expressed AU’s gratitude to the EU and its Member States,
the UN and bilateral partners, notably the United Kingdom and the United States,
for their invaluable contribution to the peace and reconciliation efforts in
Somalia.
Council reaffirmed the AU’s full support to Somalia and its
people, emphasizing its commitment to continue to support the stabilization and
reconstruction efforts, including the implementation of the Government’s Six‐Pillar Strategy.
