Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at UNSC briefing on the situation in Somalia
Mme.President,
We thank the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Catriona Laing, and the Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Mohamed El Amin Suef, for their reports. We welcome the participation in this meeting of the Permanent Representative of Somalia, Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman.
We closely follow the development in the Federal Republic of Somalia. We note the generally positive dynamics of how Somalis pursue their national priorities. This applies both to strengthening internal political stability and to issues of national reconciliation and state-building. A series of successful offensive operations by the Somali National Army with the support of ATMIS against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, which remains the main threat to the security architecture of the country and the entire Horn of Africa, has been a positive factor.
This being said, the Islamists have been able to take advantage of the “vacuum” in a number of areas from where African peacekeepers had withdrawn. Of serious concern is the persisting potential of the militants, who have no problems with funding, recruiting young people and enjoying the support of the local population. Al-Shabaab's raids in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda confirm that terrorist threat has assumed a region-wide scale, which requires collective action by neighboring countries.
In the political area, the tasks of strengthening the foundations of Somalia's federal structure, establishing dialogue between the federal center and the regions, reforming the economy, the judicial system, combating corruption and amending the national constitution remain vital. We welcome the agreements reached between the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Mohamud, and the leaders of the Somali regions regarding a unified electoral plan. We trust that all participants in the national political process will continue to work together to form a sustainable federal structure. At the same time, we will always proceed from the need to ensure the territorial integrity and unity of Somalia.
Helping to improve the effectiveness of the federal security institutions so they can effectively and independently control the whole country must remain the priority task of the international community with regard to Somalia. In that regard, it is necessary to ensure an orderly and unforced withdrawal of the African Union Transition Mission in accordance with the previously agreed plan. We count on well-coordinated work of the entire United Nations presence in the country, including the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS).
Against the background of serious floods and the El Niño hurricane at the end of last year, ensuring the Somalia’s food security is no less important. In order to overcome the severe consequences caused by natural disasters, Russia provided humanitarian assistance to our friendly East African country by donating 50,000 tonnes of grain.
Mme.President,
We closely follow the developments in the region, where protracted conflicts are taking place and contradictions keep growing. We call on all countries in the region to search for common mutually beneficial solutions, engage in dialogue, uphold the principle "African problems - African solutions", and resolve the differences that have arisen through negotiations in accordance with international law and without external interference.
Mme.President,
With the assistance of the international community, Somalia has achieved important results. However, there are still many challenges to respond to. We consistently support the efforts of official Mogadishu to stabilize the internal political situation. In this regard, we call on the United Nations and international and regional partners to continue to assist Somalia with full respect for the sovereignty.
Thank you.
