Statement by Anna Evstigneeva, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, at an open VTC of UNSC members on the situation in Somalia
Mme. President,
We welcome participation of Prime Minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble in this VTC.
We thank SRSG James Swan, Special Representative of the AU and Head of AMISOM Francisco Madeira, and representative of Somalian NGO Ms. Zainab Hassan for their meaningful briefings. We have closely studied the latest quarterly report of the Secretary-General.
The most important goal Somalia should be after these days is convening of national elections scheduled to start off on 1 December. We welcome Somalia’s broad consensus regarding the mode of the pending vote. We expect that in the next days Mogadishu and the federal states will be able to solve all outstanding issues, i.a. questions related to formation of electoral commissions in the federal states and ensuring security at the polls. We call upon African peacekeepers and UN personnel to make every possible contribution to the work at this track, and we call upon regional stakeholders to remain committed to their obligations.
We commend the progress in political dialogue between the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal states, achieved amidst preparation for the elections. We hope the Government will soon be able to resume negotiations with Somaliland and build upon normalization with Jubaland. We also look forward to having further progress in revising the federal Constitution. We agree that making this dialogue more institutional would help to advance at this track. We call upon SRSG Swan not to give up his relevant efforts in this regard.
We have taken note that the SG report contains assessments of two draft laws on the issue of sexual violence that are under consideration both at the Federal Parliament and at the Parliament of Somaliland. We believe that all concerns related to these two documents must be addressed given full respect for the sovereignty and political independence of Somalia.
The situation with security in Somalia remains tense. “Al-Shabaab” does not cease its terrorist activity that rests upon the tactic of political killings committed with the help of ever more sophisticated IEDs. The group ably adapts to any pressure it faces. “Al-Shabaab” recently intensified its activities in Mogadishu, as well as federal states Hirshabelle and Galmudug, which raises grave concern.
Against this backdrop, AMISOM remains a key component of counter-terrorist action. The role of peacekeepers becomes even more prominent in the light of upcoming electoral process. We look forward to finalization of the renewed plan for transfer of responsibility for security in Somalia from AMISOM to the Somali National Army. At the same time, we stand up against attempts to precipitate the drawdown of the Mission. We proceed from the assumption that any decisions regarding the withdrawal of African peacekeepers from Somalia must be taken given due account for the progress of SNA training, and the establishment of unified national security architecture.
We hope that the independent assessment of global assistance aimed at promoting security in Somalia, envisaged in UNSC resolution 2520, will boost efforts at the mentioned tracks. We call upon the independent experts to have closer cooperation with the regionals, African Union in the first place.
Thank you.
