The UN deputy secretary General's(Dr Asha Rose Migiro) Trip to Tanzania
The UN Deputy Secretary General Dr Asha Migiro'S visit to the Tanzania School of Journalism
Photo: Ayoub mzee
On Somalia
On Tuesday [21st June], at its 198th meeting, the AU's Peace and Security Council discussed Somalia . After briefings from the TFG Minister of Water Resources and Fisheries, representatives of IGAD, the League of Arab States and UNPOS, and from the AU Special Envoy to Somalia , the Council again reiterated its condemnation of the continued aggression against the TFG, Somalia 's civilian population and AMISOM by extremists including foreign fighters.
A day earlier, AMISOM troop contributing countries and international partners also held a consultative meeting in Addis Ababa which welcomed the decision of the previous month’s PSC meeting (15th June) extending AMISOM’s mandate to January next year. Those present underscored the calls by IGAD, the Peace and Security Council and by the AU Assembly for the United Nations Security Council to take immediate measures, including the imposition of sanctions on all spoilers, including Eritrea, to prevent the entry of foreign elements into Somalia and ban flights and shipments carrying weapons and ammunitions to armed groups carrying out attacks against the TFG, the civilian population and AMISOM. It noted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the AU and the UN on supporting AMISOM and agreed an ad-hoc working group should be established to implement the MoU. It reiterated the call to AU member states to provide additional troops to get AMISOM to its authorized strength.
In a statement adapted unanimously, the Council recognized the grave security situation in Somalia and once again called on the UN Security Council to take appropriate measures as proposed by IGAD and endorsed by the PSC as well as by the 13th ordinary session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. These include measures aimed at “spoilers inside and outside” Somalia . Eritrea has again been singled out in this regard as the major culprit. The Peace and Security Council reviewed the rules of engagement for AMISOM and the secretariat was instructed to make arrangements to discuss the issue in substantive terms. The Council urged those AU member states that had pledged to send troops to Somalia to fulfill these commitments urgently. The Ministers of Burundi and Uganda informed the Council of their governments' decision to add more battalions to the troops already deployed in AMISOM.
The PSC members emphasized the need for the TFG to work more cohesively, to organize proper command and control structures for its security forces and to open up more political space for elements opposed to extremists. The Council recognized the urgent need to support the TFG in all its efforts, particularly in the area of security. Support should also include capacity building for various TFG institutions to allow the government to run business properly. For the moment, the security situation in Mogadishu appears to remain in a stalemate. Fighting continues between extremists and TFG and AMISOM forces. The fate of the two French nationals kidnapped by extremists in Mogadishu has yet to be resolved. Another serious development this week was the looting and subsequent closure of three UN offices in Baidoa and Wajid by Al-Shabab. Al-Shabaab has now ordered all other UN and other humanitarian agencies to operate under its own terms and conditions alleging the UN agencies had been supporting the "legitimate" Government of Somalia and AMISOM.
Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab figured significantly in a speech from Ambassador Phillip Carter, principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Africa Bureau of the State Department. Speaking at Chatham House in London, on Wednesday, on the subject of the US Government's approach to Somalia, Ambassador Phillips, recalling Al-Shabaab had been designated as a Foreign Terrorist organization by the US in February last year, described it as a violent and brutal extremist organization “inspired” by Al Qaeda, and as maintaining links to Al Qaeda operatives. The Ambassador provided a clear and precise exposition of the US position, of its commitment to the peace process and to the Transitional Federal Government, its support for AMISOM and for the position taken by the African Union and by IGAD. He stressed Somalia was part of a global problem which required a global response, as well as international and regional action. He noted the support provided to the TFG by the US directly and through its support for AMISOM, and encouraged all donors to follow through on the promises made in Brussels last April. “It is imperative”, he said, “that we, as supporters of stability in Somalia , fulfill our pledges.” He spoke of the US interest in addressing the problem of piracy which he saw as a largely criminal activity and of the need to deal with the humanitarian situation, which he described as a US priority. The key to long-term peace was improved governance and inclusive political dialogue, led by TFG, and everyone should support this process. He pointed out just how important it was to prevent extremist elements, or terrorists from using Somalia . Ambassador Carter emphasized that the US was not trying to impose any solution in Somalia . Peace must come through a Somali dialogue, within the framework provided by the legitimate Somali government, the TFG. He called on all Somali stakeholders to abide by the provisions of the Djibouti Agreement and commit themselves to preparation for an elected government in 2011 and the drafting of a national constitution. The Ambassador urged all groups to operate within a political not a military framework and insisted that a policy of reconciliation should be part of a broader African solution, including regional powers. He recognized Ethiopia and Kenya 's efforts for peace in Somalia and those of the UN, while specifically taking Eritrea to task, calling “particularly” on the Government of Eritrea to cut off its assistance to Al-Shabaab and for it to join its neighbours and the rest of the international community in seeking peace in Somalia . Obviously, Eritrea ’s response is unlikely to be positive, thus the need for the Security Council to take its responsibility seriously.[Ethiopian embassy london]
On Tuesday [21st June], at its 198th meeting, the AU's Peace and Security Council discussed Somalia . After briefings from the TFG Minister of Water Resources and Fisheries, representatives of IGAD, the League of Arab States and UNPOS, and from the AU Special Envoy to Somalia , the Council again reiterated its condemnation of the continued aggression against the TFG, Somalia 's civilian population and AMISOM by extremists including foreign fighters.
A day earlier, AMISOM troop contributing countries and international partners also held a consultative meeting in Addis Ababa which welcomed the decision of the previous month’s PSC meeting (15th June) extending AMISOM’s mandate to January next year. Those present underscored the calls by IGAD, the Peace and Security Council and by the AU Assembly for the United Nations Security Council to take immediate measures, including the imposition of sanctions on all spoilers, including Eritrea, to prevent the entry of foreign elements into Somalia and ban flights and shipments carrying weapons and ammunitions to armed groups carrying out attacks against the TFG, the civilian population and AMISOM. It noted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the AU and the UN on supporting AMISOM and agreed an ad-hoc working group should be established to implement the MoU. It reiterated the call to AU member states to provide additional troops to get AMISOM to its authorized strength.
In a statement adapted unanimously, the Council recognized the grave security situation in Somalia and once again called on the UN Security Council to take appropriate measures as proposed by IGAD and endorsed by the PSC as well as by the 13th ordinary session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. These include measures aimed at “spoilers inside and outside” Somalia . Eritrea has again been singled out in this regard as the major culprit. The Peace and Security Council reviewed the rules of engagement for AMISOM and the secretariat was instructed to make arrangements to discuss the issue in substantive terms. The Council urged those AU member states that had pledged to send troops to Somalia to fulfill these commitments urgently. The Ministers of Burundi and Uganda informed the Council of their governments' decision to add more battalions to the troops already deployed in AMISOM.
The PSC members emphasized the need for the TFG to work more cohesively, to organize proper command and control structures for its security forces and to open up more political space for elements opposed to extremists. The Council recognized the urgent need to support the TFG in all its efforts, particularly in the area of security. Support should also include capacity building for various TFG institutions to allow the government to run business properly. For the moment, the security situation in Mogadishu appears to remain in a stalemate. Fighting continues between extremists and TFG and AMISOM forces. The fate of the two French nationals kidnapped by extremists in Mogadishu has yet to be resolved. Another serious development this week was the looting and subsequent closure of three UN offices in Baidoa and Wajid by Al-Shabab. Al-Shabaab has now ordered all other UN and other humanitarian agencies to operate under its own terms and conditions alleging the UN agencies had been supporting the "legitimate" Government of Somalia and AMISOM.
Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab figured significantly in a speech from Ambassador Phillip Carter, principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Africa Bureau of the State Department. Speaking at Chatham House in London, on Wednesday, on the subject of the US Government's approach to Somalia, Ambassador Phillips, recalling Al-Shabaab had been designated as a Foreign Terrorist organization by the US in February last year, described it as a violent and brutal extremist organization “inspired” by Al Qaeda, and as maintaining links to Al Qaeda operatives. The Ambassador provided a clear and precise exposition of the US position, of its commitment to the peace process and to the Transitional Federal Government, its support for AMISOM and for the position taken by the African Union and by IGAD. He stressed Somalia was part of a global problem which required a global response, as well as international and regional action. He noted the support provided to the TFG by the US directly and through its support for AMISOM, and encouraged all donors to follow through on the promises made in Brussels last April. “It is imperative”, he said, “that we, as supporters of stability in Somalia , fulfill our pledges.” He spoke of the US interest in addressing the problem of piracy which he saw as a largely criminal activity and of the need to deal with the humanitarian situation, which he described as a US priority. The key to long-term peace was improved governance and inclusive political dialogue, led by TFG, and everyone should support this process. He pointed out just how important it was to prevent extremist elements, or terrorists from using Somalia . Ambassador Carter emphasized that the US was not trying to impose any solution in Somalia . Peace must come through a Somali dialogue, within the framework provided by the legitimate Somali government, the TFG. He called on all Somali stakeholders to abide by the provisions of the Djibouti Agreement and commit themselves to preparation for an elected government in 2011 and the drafting of a national constitution. The Ambassador urged all groups to operate within a political not a military framework and insisted that a policy of reconciliation should be part of a broader African solution, including regional powers. He recognized Ethiopia and Kenya 's efforts for peace in Somalia and those of the UN, while specifically taking Eritrea to task, calling “particularly” on the Government of Eritrea to cut off its assistance to Al-Shabaab and for it to join its neighbours and the rest of the international community in seeking peace in Somalia . Obviously, Eritrea ’s response is unlikely to be positive, thus the need for the Security Council to take its responsibility seriously.[Ethiopian embassy london]
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