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S/PV.8352 the Situation in Somalia 13/09/2018

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S/PV.8352 the Situation in Somalia 13/09/2018 United Nations S/ PV.8352 Security Council Provisional Seventy-third year 8352nd meeting Thursday, 13 September 2018, 10.15 a.m. New York President: Mrs. Haley ..................................... (United States of America) Members: Bolivia (Plurinational State of) ..................... Mr. Llorentty Solíz China ......................................... Mr. Wu Haitao Côte d’Ivoire ................................... Mr. Adom Equatorial Guinea ............................... Mrs. Mele Colifa Ethiopia ....................................... Mr. Amde France ........................................ Mrs. Gueguen Kazakhstan .................................... Mr. Umarov Kuwait ........................................ Mr. Alotaibi Netherlands .................................... Mr. Van Oosterom Peru .......................................... Mr. Meza-Cuadra Poland ........................................ Ms. Wronecka Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Polyanskiy Sweden ....................................... Mr. Skoog United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Mr. Allen Agenda The situation in Somalia Report of the Secretary-General on Somalia (S/2018/800) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 18-28584 (E) *1828584* S/PV.8352 The situation in Somalia 13/09/2018 The meeting was called to order at 10.15 a.m. providing funding. That is a largely untold story that is a credit both to Somalis and to the United Nations. Adoption of the agenda The federal map is being filled in. One year ago, The agenda was adopted. HirShabelle state was created. There have been successes in conflict prevention and resolution. I just crossed The situation in the Somalia lines and went shopping in Galkayo, a town that was Report of the Secretary-General on Somalia until recently very insecure and bitterly divided. Other (S/2018/800) conflicts, such as between Puntland and Somaliland, have been prevented through intense diplomatic activity The President: In accordance with rule 39 of by the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Authority the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite on Development and others. the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Michael Keating, Special Representative of the A framework for addressing chronic insecurity Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United is in place: the national security architecture and the Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia; Mr. Francisco comprehensive approach to security. Caetano Jose Madeira, Special Representative of The plan for the transition of lead security the Chairperson of the African Union Commission responsibility from the African Union Mission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to Somali forces is being in Somalia; and Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, implemented. Somali forces just took over Mogadishu’s Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for iconic stadium and adjacent areas. Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. There is a Government in place with a compelling Mr. Madeira is joining this meeting via video reform agenda, anchored in the strong partnership tele-conference from Mogadishu. between President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed The Security Council will now begin its consideration Farmajo and Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre. of the item on its agenda. Its primary objective is to make the country more creditworthy and accountable as a step towards I wish to draw the attention of Council members to regaining full sovereignty, reducing dependency and document S/2018/800, which contains the report of the attracting both public and private investment. Secretary-General on Somalia. Benchmarks set by the International Monetary I now welcome and give the floor to Mr. Keating. Fund are being met, domestic revenues are increasing, Mr. Keating: My tour of duty comes to an end public financial management is improving, business next week. On the day that I arrived in Mogadishu in confidence is growing and the prospect of arrears January 2016, I was taken straight to the President’s clearance and debt relief is closer. office to discuss a threat by federal member states to Legislative and institutional frameworks are being suspend cooperation with the central Government. developed for the 2020 elections. Real progress is When I left Mogadishu two days ago, the country faced being made to review the Constitution. Federal states a similar situation. have been more engaged on a range of issues, and the The structural problems that shape Somali politics work Federalization Negotiation Technical Committee and security have not changed, but that should not has energized the Government’s agenda. A national obscure some remarkable achievements in the past three reconciliation framework is being developed with a years. There was a peaceful transition of presidential view to all players in Somali society playing a part in power with a result that was accepted as legitimate. addressing grievances and resolving conflicts. A new Upper House, representing the federal states, Somalis can draw strength from those positive came into being. The percentage of women Members of changes. However, no one should delude themselves Parliament went up from 14 to 24 per cent, higher than about the challenges ahead, many of them structural. both the African and the global average. A famine was averted in 2017 thanks to national mobilization, better Somalis continue to experience profound insecurity, preparedness and the generosity and speed of donors in high and costly levels of violence, ruthless attacks by 2/26 18-28584 13/09/2018 The situation in Somalia S/PV.8352 Al-Shabaab, limited access to justice and basic services, and Somali security forces in containing Al-Shabaab, an absence of local governance, chronic poverty and a it remains resilient. It uses targeted assassinations, lack of income and jobs. improvised explosive devices and the extortion both of communities and businesses, including in Mogadishu The country is vulnerable to climate shocks. There and other towns. Managing and mitigating that risk are 2.6 million internally displaced persons. It is one requires systematic degradation of Al-Shabaab, as of the most disadvantageous places in the world for well as increasing the legitimacy and capacity of the women, and the educational, work and life opportunities Government. One without the other will not work. for young people remain heartbreakingly limited. Accelerated implementation of the national security Abuse and the deprivation of human rights is architecture and investment in the comprehensive common, including sexual violence, harmful traditional approach to security are essential. Those can facilitate practices, limited freedom of expression and arbitrary more coherent approaches by international partners, arrests and detentions, including of children. A national but success depends primarily upon the implementation human rights commission has yet to be established. of agreements among Somali leaders on security roles Disputes over borders, resources and revenues, and responsibilities throughout the country. power-sharing and grievances between clans and Second is the risk that political differences will interest groups have the potential to turn violent and bring progress, the passage of key legislation and the result in further human misery and displacement. implementation of the Government’s reform-and- The 4.5 power-sharing convention that accommodates security agenda to a grinding halt. The deficit of trust the interests of powerful clans at the expense of weaker between the central Government and federal member ones and of minorities has allowed progress, but is a states and the recent decision by the latter to suspend source of exploitable grievances. cooperation are very worrisome. The failure to restore trust and cooperation sends a negative signal to both The rule of law is weak. A justice and corrections Somalis and those international partners trying to model is close to being agreed, but capacity remains make a case to sceptical capitals that Somali is ready very limited. The Government lacks the means to for additional financial and security support. Federal ensure that judgements are implemented; too often, states should use the upcoming meeting of the National people turn to Al-Shabaab instead. Security Council, to be convened by the President, as Corruption is systemic, used to gain and retain an opportunity for constructive engagement. Building power. It penalizes the poor, the majority. Untraceable upon progress to date, there is scope for more investment money changing hands continues to be a defining in the capacity of federal states and more outreach and feature of Somali politics. communication from the centre. Securing the buy- in of key constituencies to the national agenda — not Tackling corruption also requires structural just the federal states, but also parliamentarians, clan change — building
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