Security Council 6837th Meeting (AM)
Welcoming significant political progress in Somalia that had led to the selection of a new President, the Security Council this morning called for the formation of an inclusive Government, the definition of post-transition priorities and the bolstering of security, peacebuilding, anti-corruption and anti-piracy efforts, in coordination with continued international support.
Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2067 (2012), the Council highlighted that the selection by the new federal Parliament of its speaker and a new President marks the completion of the transition in the country and an important milestone in its path to stable and accountable governance. It encouraged the new President to expeditiously appoint a Prime Minister so that the latter could subsequently appoint a cabinet, reiterating the importance of the Somali authorities’ assumption of responsibility for good governance throughout Somali territory, rule of law and security and justice systems, and emphasizing the importance of the early establishment of a National Security Committee, urging the international community to continue support in all those areas.
[The selection of the President earlier this month marked the culmination of a series of steps to bring an end to the country’s two decades without a functioning government and an eight-year political transition that included the adoption of Somalia’s provisional constitution, the establishment of the New Federal Parliament and the appointment of that body’s Speaker.]
In today’s resolution, the Council emphasized the importance of completing the remaining transitional tasks, underlining that a national referendum on the constitution and general elections should take place within the terms of the current Parliament.
Expressing concern over reports of irregularities and intimidation during the Parliament selection process, as well as reports of financial misappropriation, the Council urged the Somali authorities to take effective action to end such practices, including setting up a Joint Financial Management Board.
On the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia the Council, through the text, noted that the new authorities assumed the previous role of the Transitional Federal Government and encouraged Member States to continue to cooperate with them and with each other in the effort.
The Council also emphasized the continued importance of reducing the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups, supporting the efforts of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the strengthening and reform of the national security forces for that purpose.
Speaking after the adoption, the representative of Somalia called the resolution a landmark. “I am so excited that I can’t find words,” he said, adding that it augured well for the new Government’s efforts to forge ahead towards peace and security after what he called a 20-year lapse in sovereignty, and to engage more effectively in the fight against piracy off the coast. He expressed thanks to the international community in that regard, particularly those who helped in the fight against the Al-Shabaab insurgents, who, he stressed, were allied with Al-Qaida.
He stressed, however, that the fight for a real nation, which allows every Somali to be proud of their country, had just started. He called for continued international support in that effort, so that the full machinery of government could be put in place and popular elections could be held. He hoped, he said, that his happiness was shared by members of the Council, which had done so much to allow the country to reach this stage.
The meeting began at 10:12 a.m. and ended at 10:21 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 2067 (2012) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia, as well as other relevant Presidential Statements on the situation in Somalia,
“Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia and reiterating its commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia,
“Recognizing that a more stable Somalia is of vital importance in ensuring regional security,
“Welcoming the significant progress that has been made over the past twelve months with the convening of the National Constituent Assembly and its subsequent adoption of the provisional Somali Constitution,
“Further welcoming the important work of the Traditional Elders and the Technical Selection Committee in approving the Members of Parliament, welcoming the establishment of the new Federal Parliament of Somalia, but expressing concern at reports of intimidation and corruption during the selection process,
“Also welcoming the selection by the new Federal Parliament of its Speaker and a new President, and considering that this represents the completion of the Transition in Somalia and an important milestone in Somalia’s path to more stable and accountable governance,
“Expressing concern at the worrying reports of financial misappropriation, encouraging the new Somali authorities to uphold high standards in financial management,
“Welcoming the role of regional bodies in the Transition process, including the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development,
“Commending the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Dr. Augustine Mahiga, for his efforts to bring peace and stability to Somalia,
“Commending the contribution of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to lasting peace and stability in Somalia, and noting its critical role in improving the security situation in Mogadishu and other areas of south-central Somalia, expressing its appreciation for the continued commitment of troops, police and equipment to AMISOM by the Governments of Burundi, Uganda, Djibouti, Kenya and Sierra Leone, and recognizing the significant sacrifices made by AMISOM forces,
“Reiterating its strong condemnation of all attacks on Somali institutions, AMISOM, United Nations personnel and facilities, and the civilian population by armed opposition groups, and foreign fighters, particularly Al-Shabaab, and stressing that Somali armed opposition groups and foreign fighters, particularly Al-Shabaab, constitute a terrorist threat to Somalia, and the international community, stressing that there should be no place for terrorism or violent extremism in Somalia and reiterating its call upon all opposition groups to lay down their arms,
“Calling on the new Somali authorities, with the support of AMISOM and international partners, to build an enhanced level of security in areas secured by AMISOM and the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF), underlining the importance of building sustainable, legitimate and representative local governance and security structures in areas recovered from Al-Shabaab,
“Recalling its resolutions 1950 (2010), 1976 (2011), 2020 (2011) and 2036 (2012), commending the efforts already undertaken by the international community, including naval and capacity-building operations, welcoming the recent reduction in the number of successful piracy attacks, recognizing that these gains are potentially reversible, expressing its grave concern at the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia, and recognizing that the ongoing instability in Somalia contributes to the problem of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia,
“Welcoming the increased representation of women in Parliament, commending the Somali authorities and underlining the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution,
“Expressing concern at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia and its impact on the people of Somalia, condemning any misuse of humanitarian assistance, underlining the importance of international humanitarian support,
“Reiterating the importance of adhering to obligations under international law including the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights and humanitarian law,
“Noting the importance of the investigation of breaches of international humanitarian law and the importance of holding those who commit such breaches to account,
“Recognizing the importance of transitional justice processes in building lasting peace and reconciliation in addition to strong institutions to Somalia, and stressing the role that all Somalis, including women, civil society and government actors, will play in the reconciliation process through an inclusive and consultative dialogue, noting the extension of the mandate of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia for one year,
“Looking forward to the forthcoming Secretary-General’s high-level event on Somalia to be held on 26 September 2012, which will be an opportunity for Somalia’s new leadership to consolidate the partnership with the international community including on next steps in enhancing security, stability, and transparent and accountable governance in Somalia,
“1. Expresses its determination to work closely with the new institutions and offices of the Somali authorities, and encourages the new President to expeditiously appoint an inclusive, accountable Government, particularly a Prime Minister, and subsequently for the Prime Minister to appoint a Cabinet that can begin the work of peacebuilding in the country and urges the Somali actors and international community to pledge their continued support;
“2. Emphasizes the critical role of the new Somali authorities in achieving reconciliation, lasting peace and stability in Somalia, calls on the Somali authorities to implement all postponed elements of the 6 September 2011 road map and to conduct government in an accountable and inclusive manner, and to conduct its finances in a transparent manner, working constructively with the international community;
“3. Emphasizes concern at reports of irregularities and intimidation, during the selection process for the Members of Parliament, and urges the Somali authorities to investigate these reports and take appropriate action;
“4. Stresses the importance of the new Somali authorities developing a programme to define post-transition priorities in consultation with partners and strengthening its relations with regional bodies and requests the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations entities to provide assistance in this regard, and underlines that a national referendum on the Provisional Constitution and general elections should take place within the term of the current Parliament;
“5. Underlines the Somali authorities’ responsibility to support reconciliation and deliver effective and inclusive local administrations, and public services to the people of Somalia, and underlines that these initiatives must be complemented by the expansion of rule of law institutions to areas recovered from Al-Shabaab;
“6. Reiterates its willingness to take measures against individuals whose acts threaten the peace, stability or security of Somalia;
“7. Expresses its concern at reports of financial misappropriation, reiterates its call for the end of financial misappropriation urges full cooperation in the rapid setting up and effective operation of the Joint Financial Management Board, calls on Somali authorities to develop an effective regulatory framework to promote economic development and requests all partners involved in the economic reconstruction of Somalia to increase their coordination, notes the importance of capacity-building of the relevant Somali institutions;
“8. Reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, urges the Somali authorities to continue to promote increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in Somali institutions;
“9. Recalls its resolutions 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, reiterates its support to AMISOM, welcomes the progress AMISOM has made in improving security in Mogadishu and beyond, and emphasizes the need for AMISOM, in accordance with its mandate set out in paragraph 1 of resolution 2036 (2012) and paragraph 9 of resolution 1772 (2007), and the SNSF, with the support of partners, to continue efforts to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups, and in this regard urges the Somali authorities to complete the restructuring of the SNSF including through ensuring full command and control is in place for all reintegrated personnel;
“10. Welcomes support to AMISOM by the African Union’s partners, especially through the European Union’s African Peace Facility, and calls upon all partners, in particular new donors, to support AMISOM through the provision of funding for troop stipends, equipment, technical assistance, and uncaveated funding for AMISOM to the United Nations Trust Fund for AMISOM;
“11. Welcomes the signing of the National Security and Stabilisation Plan, and reiterates the importance of the Somali authorities assuming responsibility for the establishment of good governance, rule of law and security and justice services, and emphasizes the importance of the early establishment of the National Security Committee, envisaged in the Provisional Constitution, to ensure an inclusive dialogue among the Somali people over the future security and justice architecture and urges the international community to redouble its efforts to support the development of the Somali security institutions and in this regard welcomes the support to the SNSF by the European Union Training Mission;
“12. Urges the international community to continue its efforts to support the development of the Somali justice institutions and reiterates the fundamental importance of further enhancing coordination of international support in this area, underlines the importance of delivering on initiatives agreed at both the London and Istanbul conferences in 2012;
“13. Encourages member States to continue to cooperate with Somali authorities and each other in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea, and calls upon States to cooperate, as appropriate, on the issue of hostage taking, underlines the primary role of the Somali authorities in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia in accordance with the 6 September 2011 road map, and requests the Somali authorities, with assistance from the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations entities, to pass a complete set of counter-piracy laws without further delay, including laws to prosecute those who finance, plan, organize, facilitate or profit from pirate attacks, with a view to ensuring the effective prosecution of suspected pirates and those associated with piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia, the post-conviction transfer of pirates prosecuted elsewhere to Somalia, and the imprisonment of convicted pirates in Somalia, as soon as possible, and in addition urges the Somali authorities to declare an Exclusive Economic Zone, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which will promote the effective governance of waters off the coast of Somalia;
“14. Notes that the new Somali authorities assume the previous role of the Transitional Federal Government for the purposes of paragraph 10 of resolution 1846 (2008) and paragraph 6 of resolution 1851, as renewed by paragraph 7 of resolution 1897 (2009), paragraph 7 of resolution 1950 (2010) and paragraph 9 of resolution 2020 (2011);
“15. Emphasizes that protecting and promoting human rights, investigating breaches of international humanitarian law and bringing those responsible for such breaches to account will be essential for the legitimacy of the new Somali authorities, and calls on Somalia to fulfil its obligations under international human rights and international humanitarian law;
“16. Welcomes the signing on 11 May 2012 of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Somali authorities and the United Nations on human rights, urges Member States to support all appropriate bodies in improving human rights monitoring in Somalia;
“17. Welcomes the 6 August 2012 signing of an action plan by the Somali authorities and the United Nations to eliminate the killing and maiming of children, noting that this is the first such action plan to be signed, and calls upon the Somali authorities to vigorously implement both this action plan and the 3 July 2012 action plan on the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and stresses that any perpetrators of such acts must be brought to justice;
“18. Strongly condemns the grave and systematic violations and human rights abuses perpetrated by many parties and in particular by Al-Shabaab and its affiliates against the civilian population, including violence against, children, journalists and human rights defenders and sexual violence against women and children, and calls for the immediate cessation of such acts, and emphasizes the need for accountability for all such violations and abuses;
“19. Reiterates its demand that all parties ensure full, safe and unhindered access for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to persons in need of assistance across Somalia;
“20. Notes the fundamental importance of coherent and coordinated international support to Somalia, and calls on the United Nations to coordinate international efforts in the provision of assistance and capacity-building in Somalia welcoming the gradual relocation of an UNPOS office to Mogadishu and urges all United Nations entities to take further steps to rapidly achieve a more permanent and full relocation to Somalia, in particular in Mogadishu and in areas recovered from Al‑Shabaab as soon as possible;
“21. Looks forward to the Secretary-General’s inter-agency review of the United Nations presence in Somalia, emphasizes the need to develop an integrated strategic approach to all activities of the United Nations system in Somalia, in close partnership with the Somali authorities and the African Union and in consultation with regional and international partners, and requests that he presents options and recommendations to the Security Council by 31 December 2012;
“22. Reaffirms its support to finding a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia;
“23. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”
