UNSC Briefing and Consultations on Somalia

[12 August, 1000 hrs]

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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I thank SRSG James Swan for his update on the situation in Somalia. We appreciate his continuous and close engagement on this important issue. I also thank Special Representative of the AU for Somalia and Head of AMISOM Amb. Francisco Madeira for his briefing. I express my gratitude to Ms. Batulo Sheikh Ahmed Gabale, Chairperson of the Somali National Women’s Organization, for sharing her insights with us today. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Somalia in today’s meeting.

2. We welcome the recent political developments in Somalia and hope that the Somali leadership and stakeholders will move ahead with the convening of elections.  The 27 May Agreement among the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) leaders and the revised electoral timetable issued by the National Consultative Council on 29 June are positive developments in this direction. We also note that the senate elections, though delayed, are being held in federal member states. The next step is the holding of elections for the House of People. The process was to begin on 10 August. We hope that the agreed timeline will be broadly adhered to and presidential elections will take place as scheduled. We also hope that the agreement to have 30% women’s representation in the Parliament will be a reality soon. Ms. Batulo has made strong points in support of women representation. We, therefore, hope that we continue to move forward in this spirit of consensus which all parties have displayed so far.

3. A peaceful, free and fair democratic election is extremely important for the future of Somalia, even as this Council continues to discuss the important security transition. Democratic institutions cannot have legitimacy without elections. A representative democracy will have larger influence in state-building, which in turn will positively impact the security situation.   We encourage greater cooperation between the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), for ensuring stability and smooth elections in the country. It is important to bridge the gap between the African Union (AU) and Somali authorities on AMISOM’s drawdown/reconfiguration for the success of the elections.

4. Nonetheless, the prevailing security situation, as mentioned by SRSG, continues to be a matter of concern. Al-Shabaab has stepped up its attacks and continues to try and disrupt the electoral process. Nearly 100 people have been killed in attacks by Al-Shabaab in the last few months. Al-Shabaab has also persisted with the recruitment of children and committing crimes against them. We strongly condemn the terror attacks conducted by Al-Shabaab and extend our full support to the operations conducted by the Somali forces and AMISOM against Al-Shabaab. We cannot afford to lose sight of our fight against terrorism, while we focus on elections.

5. The role of AMISOM in providing an enabling security environment for Somalia’s progress cannot be overstated. AMISOM has been playing a key role in containing Al-Shabaab in Somalia for several years now. This is important not just for Somalia but for the wider Horn of Africa region. We support a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somali security forces commencing in 2021, with a view to transferring full responsibility by 2023, as the situation on the ground allows. The situation on the ground should guide the reconfiguration process taking into account the Secretary General’s proposal on the strategic objectives, size and composition of a reconfigured African Union Mission by the end of September 2021. In this context, we look forward to the AU assessment report being finalized soon.

6. The humanitarian situation in Somalia continues to be a matter of concern. OCHA has reported that the current funding for the humanitarian response plan in Somalia is facing a shortfall of 60 percent. The triple threat of COVID-19, desert locusts and floods persist. 2.8 million people are projected to suffer from food insecurity this year. The international community should help OCHA bridge the shortfall and to meet the humanitarian needs.

7. India has been at the forefront to support Somalia by various means, including through the provision of medical facilities, capacity building programs and scholarships despite the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. India also participated in the IMF debt relief package for Somalia by agreeing to contribute Special Drawing Rights (SDR).

8. In conclusion, as Somalia passes through a critical phase, India will continue to support Somalia and its people and their desire for a stable, secure, and peaceful future. I thank you.

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