Security Council Committee on Somalia and Eritrea Considers Final Reports of Its Monitoring Group

On 12 October 2018, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea held informal consultations to consider the final reports of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG), submitted pursuant to paragraph 48 of resolution 2385 (2017).  The Committee further discussed the recommendations contained in the final report on Somalia.  Both final reports are expected to be transmitted to the Security Council on 8 November 2018.  Committee members expressed appreciation and support for the work of the SEMG.

The Committee also held an exchange of views with the delegations of Somalia and Eritrea, respectively.

During the course of the discussions, Committee members welcomed the efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia in complying with the partial lifting of the arms embargo and encouraged reinforcing those efforts, including by strengthening cooperation with the SEMG.

Committee members recalled that the arms embargo served to limit the flow of weapons to Al-Shabaab, which remains a threat to the peace and stability of Somalia and the region, while allowing the Federal Government of Somalia to build the capacity of its security forces.

Committee members welcomed the positive political developments in the Horn of Africa region, under the new leadership in Ethiopia.

They expressed appreciation for the meetings of Eritrean authorities with the Committee Chair and with the SEMG Coordinator.

They underlined the importance of efforts to achieve the normalization of relations between Eritrea and Djibouti and encouraged the two countries to continue to engage in meaningful dialogue.