UN in Somalia

..............................................................................................

Background

The United Nations' traditional involvement in the humanitarian and other needs of Somalia was transformed in April 1992 by civil conflict and the . Security Council's establishment of UNOSOM I to monitor a ceasefire in Mogadishu, the capital. UNOSOM l was also mandated to provide protection and security for United Nations personnel, equipment and supplies at the seaports and airports in Mogadishu and to escort deliveries of humanitarian supplies to distribution centers in and around the capital.

In August 1992, UNOSOM I's mandate and strength were enlarged so as to protect humanitarian convoys and distribution centres throughout Somalia. In December 1992, after the situation in Somalia had further deteriorated, the Security Council authorized Member States to form a Unified Task Force (UNITAF) to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance. UNITAF worked in coordination with UNOSOM I to secure major population centers and deliver supplies.

UNOSOM II was established in March 1993 to complete, through disarmament and reconciliation, the task begun by UNITAF for the restoration of peace, stability, law and order. However, the escalation of inter-clan fighting confirmed that there was no peace to keep in Somalia and UNOSOM II was withdrawn in March 1995.

United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS)

The Secretary-General established the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) on 15 April 1995, to help him advance the cause of peace and reconciliation through contacts with Somali leaders, civic organizations and the States and organizations concerned.

In view of the difficult security situation inside Somalia, UNPOS has been working from Nairobi, Kenya. The Head of the office is the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia who closely monitors the situation in and relating to Somalia and assists the Secretary-General provide periodic briefings and written reports to the Security Council. In the period after September 1999, UNPOS supported the initiative taken by the Government of Djibouti that led to the formation of the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia in 2000.

Developments in and related to Somalia

The TNG moved to Mogadishu in August 2000. Although, it had been participating in major international fora, including the UN General Assembly, its authority was challenged by Somali leaders in the south of the country and by northern regional administrations in "Puntland" and "Somaliland".

Somali National Reconciliation Conference under the auspices of IGAD

In January 2002, the Heads of State of member countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), decided on a new peace initiative for national reconciliation in Somalia. Three front line countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya) coordinated their efforts under the supervision of the IGAD Chairman and a Somalia National Reconciliation Conference was held in Kenya with President Daniel arap Moi (Kenya) as coordinator. The Conference opened in Eldoret, Kenya with some 600 Somali representatives. On 27 October, Somali leaders signed the "Declaration on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Structures and Principles of the Somalia National Reconciliation Process" (S/2002/1359, annex).

However, armed clashes continued between rival militias accompanied by controversy among the Somali participants in the Conference over the nature of the future transitional federal government. By mid-September 2003, developments at the Conference, which had relocated to Mbagathi, Kenya created an impasse over the adoption of a charter (see S/2003/987, paragraphs 13-18).

The "Somaliland" administration refused to participate in the Mbagathi Conference and tensions between "Somaliland" and the "Puntland" administration over the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag escalated in early 2004.

At the 10th IGAD Summit held in Kampala on 24 October 2003, under the Chairmanship of President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Heads of State focused their attention on ways of getting the Somali national reconciliation process back on track. President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique (Chairman of the African Union) and Mr. Alpha Konare (Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union) participated in the Summit.

The IGAD Heads of State decided to expand the membership of the IGAD Technical Committee to include Eritrea, Sudan and Uganda, in addition to Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, and rename it the IGAD Facilitation Committee. The Special Envoy of the African Union for Somalia was made a member of the Facilitation Committee.

Developments at the Conference during 2004

On 29 January 2004, Somali leaders signed a document entitled "Declaration on the Harmonization of Various Issues Proposed by the Somali Delegates at the Somali Consultative Meetings from 9-29 January 2004". This document proposed amendments to the transitional federal charter adopted at the plenary of the Conference on 15 September 2003. The leaders decided that: the name of the charter would be the transitional federal charter of the Somali republic; the name of the government would be the transitional federal government; it would have a five year term; and the transitional federal parliament would have 275 members of whom 12 per cent would be women. The document also called for a national census to be undertaken while the new constitution was being drafted. It was to seek the approval of an internationally supervised national referendum, however, a controversy arose over the selection of members of parliament.

Agreement was reached on this issue during July 2004 after concerted efforts by IGAD Foreign Ministers. Each Somali clan (Hawiye, Darod, Digil and Mirifle, the Dir and the Allied) was asked to submit a list of 61 MPs. The Allied clan however, was asked to submit a list of 31 MPs. The Kenyan Vice-President, declared the Parliament formally inaugurated on 29 August.

On 10 October, the President of "Puntland,"Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, was elected President of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) with 189 votes. The runner up, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed Addow received 79 votes. Before voting, the 25 Presidential candidates swore on the Koran and signed a declaration, pledging to support the elected president and demobilize their militia.

The IGAD Ministerial Facilitation Committee urged the international community to support the TFG with diplomatic recognition, a peacekeeping force and prompt financial support. TFG Ministers said that they intended to visit the AU, LAS, OIC, EC and UN Headquarters, accompanied by the TFG President and the Speaker of the parliament.

"Somaliland" warned IGAD, AU, UN, EU, United States and the international community, that they had a responsibility to prevent any violation of Somaliland's borders and ensure stability. "Somaliland" said that the international community would be accountable for any violations.

United Nations action

Since early 2002, the Secretary-General has reported on the Somalia situation to the Security Council every four months. The main focus of these reports has been on progress made and the challenges faced at the IGAD-led peace Conference. The reports have also provided updates on developments in Somalia, including the security situation and humanitarian and development activities of the United Nations programmes and agencies. More...

The Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Ambassador Mohamed Sahnoun, accompanied by his Representative for Somalia, Winston Tubman, collaborated actively with IGAD leaders in efforts to re-energize the stalled reconciliation process during 2003-2004.

On 20 January 2004, the Secretary-General issued a statement expressing deep concern over increased tensions between the Administrations of "Puntland" and "Somaliland" over the Sool and Sanaag regions, which threatened the outbreak of hostilities at a critical time in the Somali peace process. He called on the parties to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from the use of force. He urged the parties to seek a solution through political dialogue. He also reminded them of their responsibility to protect civilian populations located in their respective areas, and to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance. The Secretary-General also called on all Somali parties to reach an agreement on national reconciliation that would put an end to all fighting and bloodshed in the country.

On 8 July 2004, the Secretary-General addressed the Somali delegates at the Conference (Press release SG/SM/9410). He reiterated the United Nations' commitment to support the outcome of the Conference, but underlined that ultimate responsibility for achieving an all-inclusive government and making it work, rested on Somali shoulders. He urged the parties to make every effort to achieve the conference goals set by IGAD Ministers and to establish an inclusive governance structure as soon as possible.

In his message to the inauguration of the President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia on 14 October 2004 (Press release SG/SM/9541), the Secretary-General underlined that international support, important as it was, could only achieve so much. He said that the Somalis themselves must show seriousness and good faith if they were to re establish peace and stability in their country. He urged all Somalis and their leaders to support the new Transitional Federal Government and he called on the international community to assist. He reiterated that the United Nations would certainly do its part.

Arms embargo

In his Report to the Security Council of 12 February 2004 (S/2004/115), the Secretary-General noted that the mission of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) to the region in November 2003 and the adoption of resolution 1519 (2003) on 16 December 2003, demonstrated the Council's determination to give full effect to the implementation of the arms embargo on Somalia. He said that in accordance with the Council's request, he had established a Monitoring Group composed of four experts, for a period of six months, to be based in Nairobi and mandated, inter alia, to investigate violations of the arms embargo covering Somalia by land, air and sea. The Group was instructed to provide a draft list of those who continued to violate the arms embargo inside and outside Somalia, as well as their active supporters, for possible future measures by the Council.

In paragraph 4 of its Report (S/2004/604) to the Security Council, the Monitoring Group noted that Arms continued to be imported into Somalia and sold openly in the various local arms markets there. The Group also noted that the Bakaaraha arms market in Mogadishu was still the main source of arms in Somalia.

Planning for peace in Somalia

In March 2002, the Security Council asked the Secretary-General to coordinate ongoing peace-building activities and provide for their incremental expansion. He was also asked to undertake preparatory activities for a comprehensive peace-building mission. At the request of the Council, the Secretary-General established the UN Trust Fund for Peace-building in Somalia and the Contact Group for Somalia,, to support national reconciliation in Somalia.

During 2004, the United Nations stepped up its activities inside Somalia. UNPOS, the United Nations Country Team and donors, continued to develop plans to support the future Transitional Federal Government and institutions. UNPOS hosted a meeting on 10 June to discuss the peace-building challenges that the new government would face.