Security Council

5633^rd Meeting (PM)

Security Council authorizes six-month African Union mission in somalia,

 

Unanimously adopting resolution 1744 (2007)

 

Aims to Support National Reconciliation Congress;

Requests Report within 60 Days on Possible United Nations Peacekeeping Mission

The Security Council this afternoon gave the green light to the African Union to establish a mission in Somalia for six months, and requested the Secretary-General to send a technical assessment mission to look into the possibility of a United Nations peacekeeping operation following the African Union’s deployment.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1744 (2007) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Council authorized the African Union mission to take all measures, as appropriate, to carry out support for dialogue and reconciliation by assisting with the free movement, safe passage and protection of all those involved in a national reconciliation congress involving all stakeholders, including political leaders, clan leaders, religious leaders and representatives of civil society.

The Council welcomed that initiative of the Transitional Federal Institutions and President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and requested the Secretary-General to assist with that congress and in promoting an ongoing all-inclusive political process, working together with the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD).

Other elements of the mission’s mandate include:  the provision of protection to the Transitional Federal Institutions and security for key infrastructure; assistance with the implementation of the National Security and Stabilization Plan; contribution to the creation of the necessary security conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance; and protection of its personnel and facilities, as well ensuring the security and freedom of movement of its personnel.  To that end, the Council lifted the arms embargo established by resolution 751 (1992) for weapons and supplies for use by the mission and for the purpose of helping develop security sector institutions, provided that States supplying such weapons and assistance would notify the sanctions committee in that regard.

Emphasizing the continued contribution made to Somalia’s peace and security by the arms embargo, the Council demanded that all Member States, in particular those of the region, fully comply with it, and reiterated its intention to consider urgently ways to strengthen its effectiveness, including through targeted measures.

By the same text, the Council decided that its measures in resolution 1725 (2006) regarding a protection and training mission in Somalia, established by IGAD and member States of the African Union, would no longer apply.

After the vote, the representative of the United Kingdom said that, for the first time in 15 years, the people of Somalia now had the prospect of being led by a representative Government and an opportunity to begin the process of national reconciliation.  The international community had the duty to turn that opportunity into reality by supporting the elements of the text of the adopted resolution, as well as the efforts of the African Union.

Still, he added, it was but one small step towards reconciliation, peace and security in a country that had know little but conflict and insecurity for so long.  He said the Council had been right to request the Secretary-General to send a technical assessment mission to Somalia to examine on-the-ground conditions for the possible launch of a United Nations mission when the African Union wrapped up its work.  But, the international community could help out only so much, as the Somali people themselves had to work together to ensure that their transitional Government institutions served their interests and were indeed representative.

The representative of France stressed that the international community could not impose peace in Somalia.  It was up to the Somalis, and to them alone, to seize the unique opportunity the African Union was offering them.  He expressed the hope that they would be able to seize it, because the future of Somalia was in their hands.

Italy’s representative, expressing full support of African Union efforts, said that a full and inclusive political process conducted by the Somalis themselves was key to the solution of the crisis.  It was essential for the mission to be perceived as instrumental in supporting dialogue and reconciliation.

South Africa’s representative said he hoped that the adoption of the resolution demonstrated to the people of Somalia that the international community cared about their situation.  It was a start.  And he hoped that, in the coming months, the international community, through the Council, would move to support reconstruction in the country.  He added that the upcoming dialogue between the transitional institutions and other Somali parties would be critical to long-term peace in that country.

The meeting started at 5:38 p.m. and was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1744 (2007) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions concerning the situation in Somalia, in particular resolution 733 (1992), resolution 1356 (2001), resolution 1425 (2002) and resolution 1725 (2006), the statements of its President, in particular those of 13 July 2006 (S/PRST/2006/31) and 22 December 2006 (S/PRST/2006/59),

“Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia,

“Reiterating its commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia through the Transitional Federal Charter, and stressing the importance of broad-based and representative institutions reached through an all-inclusive political process, as envisaged in the Transitional Federal Charter,

“Reiterating its strong support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. François Fall,

“Reiterating its appreciation of the efforts of the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to promote peace, stability and reconciliation in Somalia, and welcoming their continued engagement in this regard,

“Taking note of the communiqué of the African Union Peace and Security Council of 19 January 2007, which states that the African Union shall deploy for a period of six months a mission to Somalia (AMISOM), aimed essentially at contributing to the initial stabilization phase in Somalia, and that the mission will evolve into a United Nations operation that will support the long-term stabilization and post-conflict restoration of Somalia,

“Welcoming the African Union’s intention to establish a mission in Somalia and underlining the urgency of the development,

“Welcoming the decision of Ethiopia to withdraw its troops from Somalia, taking note of the fact that Ethiopia has already started withdrawing its troops, and underlining that the deployment of AMISOM will help avoid a security vacuum and create the conditions for full withdrawal and the lifting of emergency security measures currently in place,

“Reiterating its support for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Institutions, underlining the importance of maintaining and providing stability and security throughout Somalia, and underscoring in this regard the importance of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militia and ex-combatants in Somalia,

“Condemning all acts of violence and extremism inside Somalia, deploring the recent bombings in Mogadishu, and expressing its concern regarding the continued violence inside Somalia,

“Determining that the situation in Somalia continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Stresses the need for broad-based and representative institutions reached through an all-inclusive political process in Somalia, as envisaged in the Transitional Federal Charter, in order to consolidate stability, peace and reconciliation in the country and ensure that international assistance is as effective as possible;

“2.   Welcomes the initiative of the Transitional Federal Institutions to pursue an inclusive intra-Somali political process, particularly the announcement made by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed at the African Union Summit of his intention to convene urgently a national reconciliation congress involving all stakeholders including political leaders, clan leaders, religious leaders, and representatives of civil society, looks forward to the sustained and all-inclusive political process that is needed as a result of that commitment and that will help pave the way to democratic elections at the local, regional and national levels as set out in Somalia’s Transitional Federal Charter, and encourages those in the Transitional Federal Government and the other Transitional Federal Institutions to unite behind efforts to promote such an inclusive dialogue;

“3.   Requests the Secretary-General to assist the Transitional Federal Institutions with the national reconciliation congress, and, more widely, promoting an ongoing all-inclusive political process, working together with the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, requests the Secretary-General to report back to the Security Council within sixty (60) days of adoption of this resolution on progress made by the Transitional Federal Institutions in pursuing an all-inclusive political process and reconciliation, and reiterates its intention to consider taking measures against those who seek to prevent or block a peaceful political process, threaten the Transitional Federal Institutions by force, or take action that undermines stability in Somalia or the region;

“4.   Decides to authorize member States of the African Union to establish for a period of six months a mission in Somalia, which shall be authorized to take all necessary measures as appropriate to carry out the following mandate:

(a)   To support dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia by assisting with the free movement, safe passage and protection of all those involved with the process referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3;

(b)   To provide, as appropriate, protection to the Transitional Federal Institutions to help them carry out their functions of government, and security for key infrastructure;

(c)   To assist, within its capabilities, and in coordination with other parties, with implementation of the National Security and Stabilization Plan, in particular the effective re-establishment and training of all-inclusive Somali security forces;

(d)   To contribute, as may be requested and within capabilities, to the creation of the necessary security conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance;

(e)   To protect its personnel, facilities, installations, equipment and mission, and to ensure the security and freedom of movement of its personnel;

“5.   Urges member States of the African Union to contribute to the above mission in order to create the conditions for the withdrawal of all other foreign forces from Somalia;

“6.   Decides that the measures imposed by paragraph 5 of resolution 733 (1992) and further elaborated in paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1425 (2002) shall not apply to:

(a)   Supplies of weapons and military equipment, technical training and assistance intended solely for the support of or use by the mission referred to in paragraph 4 above; or

(b)   Such supplies and technical assistance by States intended solely for the purpose of helping develop security sector institutions, consistent with the political process set out in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above and in the absence of a negative decision by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) within five working days of receiving the notification described in paragraph 7 below;

“7.   Decides that States providing supplies or technical assistance in accordance withparagraph 7 (b) above shall notifythe Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) in advance and on a case-by-case basis;

“8.   Urges Member States to provide personnel, equipment and services if required, for the successful deployment of AMISOM, and encourages Member States to provide financial resources for AMISOM;

“9.   Requests the Secretary-General to send a Technical Assessment Mission to the African Union headquarters and Somalia as soon as possible to report on the political and security situation and the possibility of a UN Peacekeeping Operation following the AU’s deployment, and to report to the Security Council within sixty (60) days of the adoption of this resolution with recommendations covering the UN’s further engagement in support of peace and security in Somalia, as well as further recommendations on stabilization and reconstruction;

“10.  Emphasizes the continued contribution made to Somalia’s peace and security by the arms embargo, demands that all Member States, in particular those of the region, fully comply with it, and reiterates its intention to consider urgently ways to strengthen its effectiveness, including through targeted measures in support of the arms embargo;

“11.  Expresses its deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Somalia, demands that all parties in Somalia ensure complete and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as providing guarantees for the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers in Somalia,and welcomes and encourages the ongoing relief efforts in Somalia;

“12.  Decides that, having regard to the establishment of AMISOM, the measures contained in paragraphs 3 to 7 of resolution 1725 (2006) shall no longer apply;

“13.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record