The Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somali Republic – James Swan, on Monday the 22nd February 2021 briefed and told the Security Council that “growing political tensions threaten Somalia’s state-building progress and even security unless they are resolved through dialogue and compromise in the interest of the country.”
Source: UN Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw3CCzi4Azc&feature=emb_title
Briefing via video teleconference (VTC), James Swan, who is also the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Somalia, said, “Unfortunately, instead we are seeing increased brinkmanship, pressure tactics, and tests of strength that can only heighten risks.”
The political standoff, he said, “has blocked implementation of the electoral model agreed by the Federal Government of Somalia President and Federal Member State leaders on 17 September 2020.”
Swan said the consensus-based 17 September model “offers the best available option to proceed quickly to an electoral process for selection of members of parliament, senators, and the president” and would “minimize further delays in Somalia’s four-year transition cycle, ensure that the chosen national leaders have a clear mandate and are widely accepted, and allow the country to turn its attention from the current political competition to other vital national priorities in the interest of its people.”
He said, “the Somali people have waited a long time to see progress, and it remains fragile,” and urged Somalia’s political leaders “to pull back from confrontation and avoid risky winner-take-all tactics.”
The full briefing of the SRSG - James Swan on 22nd February 2021 reads as follow:
Madame President, Distinguished Members of the Council, Thank
you for this opportunity to once again update the Council on the situation in
Somalia.
I am pleased to appear jointly with my dear colleague,
Ambassador Francisco Madeira, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission. Let me take this opportunity at the beginning
of this session to pay tribute to the commitment and sacrifice of AMISOM forces
in Somalia since 2007 alongside courageous Somali Forces.
Today’s meeting of the Council is timely in view of the
significant developments in Somalia in recent weeks, and even days.
Growing political tensions threaten Somalia’s state-building progress and even
security unless they are resolved through dialogue and compromise in the
interest of the country. Unfortunately, instead we are seeing increased
brinkmanship, pressure tactics, and tests of strength that can only heighten
risks.
The political standoff among key Somali leaders has blocked the
implementation of the electoral model agreed by the Federal Government of
Somalia President and Federal Member State leaders on 17th September
2020. This model was formally endorsed by both houses of Parliament and
supported by all other major political actors, but implementation is in dispute.
I will return to this point.
Tensions over electoral implementation have now been compounded
by questions raised by some political figures over the legitimacy of the
president’s mandate following the expiry of his constitutional term on 8
February. The Government cites an October ‘parliamentary resolution’ permitting
the President to remain, but this is contested by others.
Meanwhile, on the morning of February 19, a day of protests
announced by the opposition Council of Presidential Candidates, several violent
incidents were reported. Although full details are unconfirmed, these
incidents reportedly included armed exchanges between government security
personnel and security teams employed by the opposition, as well as recourse to
live fire by government forces to disperse protestors.
Public communication from key leaders has become increasingly
polemical and confrontational, revealing the frustration, mistrust, and sense
of grievance felt by many.
Hence, this is a tense moment in Somalia, as both rhetoric and
actions are escalating.
Madame President,
In light of the above, let me briefly recap recent efforts to
move forward with the implementation of the 17 September electoral model.
At the invitation of the Federal Government, FGS and FMS leaders
met in Dhusamareb from 2 to 6 February, and made progress but reached no final
agreement on the contentious issues, namely: the composition of the
electoral management bodies; the modalities for selecting representatives from
“Somaliland” in federal institutions; and the management of elections in the
Gedo region of Jubbaland State.
Subsequently, the Federal Government convened a technical
committee of senior ministers from the FGS and FMS, who met in Baidoa from 15
to 16 February. The Committee announced that it had arrived at technical
solutions for the contentious issues, it reaffirmed commitment to the 30 per
cent women’s quota in the electoral process, and it noted the need for a
revised but short new electoral calendar.
On the basis of the Committee’s work, the Federal Government
called for a FGS-FMS leaders’ summit to be held in Mogadishu from 18 to 19
February. Yet, events of recent days have disrupted these plans, and the
leaders of Jubbaland and Puntland have so far regrettably declined to join the FGS
and other FMSes for a summit. Along with other partners, we continue efforts to
understand and address the concerns of these two leaders so that they may join
the process to advance the 17 September agreement.
In view of this worrying impasse, in recent days I have worked
closely, alongside other regional and international partners, to engage FGS and
FMS leaders, key political figures, and civil society representatives to urge a
way forward based on dialogue and compromise in the national interest. The
message from partners has been clear that there should be no partial elections,
no parallel processes, and no unilateral actions by Somali leaders. Such
approaches would only lead to greater division and the risk of confrontation.
Madame President,
Let me be clear: I remain convinced that the
consensus-based 17 September model offers the best available option to proceed
quickly to an electoral process for selection of members of parliament,
senators, and the president. This would minimize further delays in
Somalia’s four-year transition cycle, ensure that the chosen national leaders
have a clear mandate and are widely accepted, and allow the country to turn its
attention from the current political competition to other vital national
priorities in the interest of the people.
To move forward on this path, it is imperative that Somali
leaders use all available channels for dialogue and consultation, including
contacts with a wide range of political stakeholders and influential civil
society figures so that their important voices are heard. To build trust
in the process, it will also be necessary to ensure that the management and
oversight of the agreed electoral process are as impartial and independent as
possible, and subject to regular monitoring. Core political freedoms
including those of speech, assembly, organization, and access to media must be
ensured. And communication among the main actors – and especially the FGS and
FMS leaders – must continue on a regular and frequent basis to minimize future
misunderstandings and resolve problems before they escalate.
The United Nations and other international partners stand ready
to walk with Somalis on this path forward, through providing good offices or a
forum for dialogue, offering technical assistance to the process, and
monitoring implementation of commitments, should the Somali parties find these
contributions useful.
The longer national political attention continues to be focused
on the current impasse over holding elections, the greater will be the negative
impact on other priorities, such as advancing security and economic reforms,
finalizing the constitution, and pursuing the development agenda.
Madame President,
Al-Shabab continues to pose the primary threat to the security
of the country. Al-Shabab has increased its operational tempo since
August 2020, and the beginning of 2021 has seen a new peak in the number of
attacks, including more Person-Borne and Vehicle-Borne IEDs, targeting
government officials and key figures in Somali society.
Important military gains were made by Somali Security Forces
backed by AMISOM in the Lower Shabelle region in early 2019 and again in early
2020, and these are now being consolidated to enable further progress against
Al Shabab in other areas. UNSOS has remained steadfast in delivery of
support to AMISOM and eligible Somali forces throughout this period, despite
the complications of the COVID pandemic.
Meanwhile, preparatory work has been completed to advance the
security transition in Somalia in 2021, as requested by this Council. The
Federal Government organized meetings of the Security and Justice Committee as
well as the Somalia Partnership Forum in early December – thereby advancing the
Comprehensive Approach to Security and the Mutual Accountability Framework. We
encourage the Government to continue these efforts, and to hold the Force
Generation Conference announced by the Prime Minister as soon as possible. The
Council-mandated Independent Assessment of the security situation and the role
of international partners was submitted to the Council on January 8, and the
Somalia Transition Plan was updated and presented by the Somali Government to
security partners and the African Union PSC in early February. These are
all important elements to advance the security transition this year and lay the
foundations for further progress in the future.
Madame President,
The humanitarian
situation in Somalia remains dire. The number of people in need of assistance
will increase from 5.2 million persons last year to an estimated 5.9 million
persons in 2021. This is the result of increased food insecurity, climatic
disasters, the worst desert locust infestation in decades, and the effects of
the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, in recent weeks we have seen a renewed
spike in COVID cases in Somalia, which will only exacerbate the already
difficult humanitarian situation. Somalia is eligible for the COVAX vaccine
programme, and the United Nations, in close collaboration with the Somali
authorities, will ensure that the first batch of vaccines is effectively
distributed to front line workers and vulnerable groups across the country.
While we are deeply grateful for the generous donor contributions in 2020, the
humanitarian needs will continue to be high and we again appeal for donor support
to the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021, for which $1.09 billion is
requested.
The UN family also continues to work with Somali authorities and partners on longer-term solutions to these recurrent humanitarian shocks. For example, our Mission’s Environmental Advisor is engaging the Government to develop climate-related policies and strategies as well as practical responses to flood and drought cycles impacted by climatic conditions.
Madame President,
While these quarterly briefings typically focus on the latest
political, security, and humanitarian developments, we must always remain
mindful that enduring positive change for Somalis will require institution
building; improvements in governance through many elements including
constitutional reform; investment in health and education; greater
participation by women, youth and marginalized groups; and other long-term
reforms. The UN in Somalia continues its work with Somalis in all these
areas, knowing this will take persistence and perseverance.
It is imperative that these larger future goals be borne in mind
by Somalia’s political leaders. The Somali people have waited a long time
to see progress, and it remains fragile.
That is why I conclude by urging all of Somalia’s political
leaders to pull back from confrontation and avoid risky winner-take-all
tactics. Instead, this is a time to pursue dialogue and compromise to
reach an inclusive and credible political agreement to hold elections as soon
as possible based on the 17 September model.
Thank you.
#Somalia #UN #UNSOM #Federal_Member_States #Election #FGS #FMS #IC #James Swan
