Chapter VIII. Consideration of questions under the responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security 6. The situation in Somalia Decision of 26 March 1993 (3188th meeting): promote efforts towards such reconciliation in resolution 814 (1993) cooperation with the regional organizations. However, his efforts had been hindered by the circumstances On 3, 11 and 22 March 1993, pursuant to prevailing in Somalia, including the non-existence of a resolution 794 (1992) of 3 December 1992, the government, the multiplicity of parties, factions and Secretary-General submitted a further report on leaders, and the absence of law and order in all parts of Somalia.1 In his report, the Secretary-General the country. The major political development since his described his efforts to implement resolution 794 and last report had been the convening in Mogadishu, after introduced his plan for the transition from the United significant delays, of the Ad Hoc Committee to resolve Task Force (UNITAF) to the United Nations Operation the criteria for participation at, and the agenda of, the in Somalia (UNOSOM II). The Secretary-General National Reconciliation Conference. The Committee reported that the situation in many parts of the country had met on 23 and 27 February and adopted a report on remained complex and tense, especially in rural areas participation, the draft agenda and decision-making and along Somalia’s borders with Ethiopia and Kenya. procedures. The Somali National Alliance had The recent murders of relief workers had highlighted submitted reservations regarding the criteria for the extreme fragility of the security situation, in spite participation. The Secretary-General pointed out that it of the presence of large numbers of military forces. was essential to maintain the momentum gained in They had also highlighted again the importance of a Addis Ababa, at the informal meeting for a Conference secure environment for the effective delivery of on National Reconciliation and Unity, on 4 January emergency relief and rehabilitation assistance. Pointing 1993, and to proceed with the convening of the out that the needs of Somalia were immense and conference. In that regard, he informed the Council of urgent, the Secretary-General outlined three major his intention to invite a broad cross-section of Somalis challenges in 1993, which were to facilitate the to participate in the conference, to ensure that the voluntary return of 300,000 refugees and internally validity and decisions of the Conference would be displaced persons; to provide jobs for the many recognized by the Somali public at large. millions unemployed; and to assist in national capacity-building, since national and regional Somali The Secretary-General reiterated his view that institutions and civil administration had virtually without improved security throughout the country, the ceased to exist. To achieve those objectives, the United political process could not prosper and humanitarian Nations, in close cooperation with relevant operations would remain vulnerable to disruption. organizations of the United Nations system and Acknowledging that UNITAF had made an important international non-governmental organizations, as well contribution in that regard, he pointed out, however, as Somali representatives, were putting together a that recent events on the ground had demonstrated that humanitarian programme for 1993. The Secretary- the situation was still volatile, that a secure General called upon donors to support that programme environment had not yet been established and that at the United Nations Humanitarian Conference, to be there was still a threat to international peace and held in Addis Ababa from 11 to 13 March 1993. security. Therefore, the Council should be prepared to ensure that UNOSOM II was fully in a position to The Secretary-General warned that the carry out its tasks. The mandate of UNOSOM II, as set proliferation of landmines in Somalia could severely out in his report,2 would confer authority for hamper humanitarian efforts. In that regard, he appropriate action, including enforcement action as intended to establish a coherent and integrated necessary, to establish throughout Somalia a secure programme for the removal of mines in Somalia. He environment for humanitarian assistance. To that end, stated that a mine awareness programme should also be UNOSOM II would seek to complete, through established among refugees and displaced persons. disarmament and reconciliation, the task begun by With regard to political reconciliation, the UNITAF for the restoration of peace, stability, law and Secretary-General reported that he had continued to __________________ __________________ 2 For details on the proposed mandate, see S/25354, 1 S/25354 and Add.1 and 2. paras. 56-58. 07-63109 419 Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council order. The mandate would also empower UNOSOM II documents4 and two reports of the Secretary-General, of to assist the Somali people in rebuilding their shattered 19 December 1992 and 26 January 1993, on the economy and social and political life, re-establishing situation in Somalia, submitted in pursuance of the country’s institutional structure, achieving national resolution 794 (1992) of 3 December 1992.5 political reconciliation, recreating a Somali State based In his report of 19 December 1992, the Secretary- on democratic governance, and rehabilitating the General had recalled that the Council had accepted his country’s economy and infrastructure. The Secretary- advice that the traditional peacekeeping model was not General also underlined that there must be a smooth suitable to the Somali situation and, acting under transition from UNITAF to UNOSOM II. The Chapter VII of the Charter, had adopted resolution 794 deployment of UNOSOM II would be at his discretion, (1992), entrusting to certain Member States, on a as well as that of his Special Representative and the temporary basis, the responsibility for creating a secure Force Commander, acting under the authority of the environment for the unimpeded delivery of Security Council and would have to cover the whole humanitarian assistance. The Secretary-General had set country, including its borders, in order to control the out, in his report of 19 December 1992, his ideas for a movement of refugees, prevent the illicit introduction new mandate for UNOSOM and the modalities for of arms into Somalia, and avoid destabilization of the effecting the transition from UNITAF to continued neighbouring countries. Furthermore, Member States peacekeeping operations. In doing so, he had pointed should be encouraged to monitor and report violations out that the UNITAF had been on the ground for only of the arms embargo. The Secretary-General 10 days and that it was too early to make an evaluation maintained that the political will to achieve security, of its success and of the resources that would be reconciliation and peace must spring from the Somalis required to enable UNOSOM to maintain a secure themselves. Even if UNOSOM II were authorized to environment for humanitarian operations. Therefore, resort to forceful action, it could not and must not be the plan submitted could only be regarded as a expected to substitute itself for the Somali people, nor conceptual plan. Moreover, no decision should be could or should it use its authority to impose one taken on the proposed approach until the situation on system or another of governmental organization. It the ground in Somalia had become clear. should, however, be in a position to press for the observance of United Nations standards of human In his report of 26 January 1993, the Secretary- rights and justice. The Secretary-General concluded by General had reported, inter alia, on his efforts to saying that UNOSOM II would be the first operation of promote national reconciliation in Somalia. The major its kind to be authorized by the international development had been the convening of an informal community. It would also be an answer of the preparatory meeting for a conference of national international community to the universally shared reconciliation and unity on Somalia, in Addis Ababa, concern that the situation in Somalia, though primarily from 4 to 15 January 1993, in which the three of a domestic nature, could affect the peace and following agreements were concluded: (a) General stability of the entire region. Agreement of 8 January 1993; (b) Agreement on implementing the ceasefire and on modalities of At its 3188th meeting, on 26 March 1993, the disarmament; and (c) Agreement on the establishment Security Council included in its agenda the further of an ad hoc committee to help resolve the criteria for report of the Secretary-General of 3, 11 and 22 March participation at and the agenda for the national 1993. Following the adoption of the agenda, the Council __________________ invited the representative of Somalia, at her request, to 4 Letters dated 17 December 1992 and 19 January 1993 participate in the discussion without the right to vote. from the Permanent Representative of the United States The President (New Zealand) then drew the attention of of America (S/24976 and S/25126), 7 January 1993 from the Council members to the text of a draft resolution the Permanent Representative of Canada (S/25072), that had been prepared in the course of the Council’s 25 January 1993 from the Permanent Representative of prior consultations3 and read out a revision made to the the United Arab Emirates (S/25163) and 18 February draft. He also drew attention to several other 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait __________________ (S/25312), all addressed to the President of the Security Council. 3 S/25472. 5 S/24992 and S/25168. 420 07-63109 Chapter VIII. Consideration of questions under the responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security reconciliation conference. The meeting had also agreed renewal, refugee repatriation, the creation of civilian on the convening of a national reconciliation administration, and political reconciliation.7 conference in Addis Ababa on 15 March 1993.