Briefing on Somalia by SRSG Fall to the Security Council – 26 December, 2006

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Mr. President,

1. Since my last briefing to the Security Council in November, the crisis in Somalia has escalated dangerously, as the hostilities between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) have now expanded across a 400-kilometer wide front. The conflict now involves foreign forces and the use of heavy weapons and aircraft. The deteriorating situation in Somalia has no doubt dealt a serious blow to efforts aimed at the early resumption of peace talks. The fighting has also compounded an already serious humanitarian crisis, resulting in additional displacement of populations.
 
2.         On 6 December, 2006, the Security Council adopted resolution 1725 modifying the arms embargo and authorizing the establishment of a joint IGAD-African Union force to protect the TFG in Baidoa. The adoption of this resolution was warmly welcomed by the TFG but rejected by the UIC, which claimed that it could lead to fighting in the region, adding that the deployment of foreign forces in Somalia was tantamount to an invasion of the country. In any event,  neither IGAD nor the African Union has identified potential troop contributors or possible sources of funding for IGASOM, as authorized by Security Council resolution 1725.

3.         In the days and weeks leading up to the adoption of resolution 1725, there had been a gradual escalation in war rhetoric and tensions between the two sides. As a result, on 7 December, intermittent clashes began between militiamen loyal to the UIC and the TFG forces in various locations in the Bay Administrative region south of Baidoa. At the same time, the UIC accused Ethiopia of illegally deploying troops to Somalia in support of the TFG.

4.         On 12 December, Yusuf Mohamed Siyad Indhaade, the Defence Secretary of the UIC, announced that Ethiopia had seven days to withdraw its forces from Somalia or it would face a major conflict. On 20 December, heavy fighting broke out in the Bay region and soon spread to the central Galkayo, Hiran and Middle Shabelle Administrative regions where the forces of the UIC had been confronting those of the warlords of the former Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-terrorism.

5.         After several days of intense fighting, the TFG forces and their allies have taken control of several areas from the UIC including the towns of Bandiradley (Galkayo), Beletweyne(Hiran), Bulo-barde (Middle Shebelle), Burhakaba(Bay) and Dinsor(Bay). According to reports, TFG forces and their allies are now heading towards Jowhar. Other reports suggest that another TFG force is approaching Wanla-weyn in Lower Shabelle. TFG forces are thus reportedly marching towards Mogadishu from at least two directions. However, they are still facing stiff resistance from UIC militias and their allies in several areas. Fighting between the two sides is also continuing in the central Mudug and Galgudud regions of the country. At the same time, the TFG has announced the closure of Somalia’s international borders “on security grounds” and has called on the international community, particularly the neighbouring states, to help enforce this ban.

6.         As the fighting spreads, both sides accuse each other of getting military support from foreign forces. There have been consistent reports of the presence of troops from Ethiopia inside Somalia and their involvement, together with heavy artillery and aircraft, in the fighting on the side of the TFG. Both Mogadishu airport and a military airfield in Baledugle have been subjected to Ethiopian air-strikes. Reports also mentioned the presence of Eritrea on the side of the UIC, although Eritrea has consistently denied the presence of its troops inside Somalia. 

7.         On 23 December, leaders of the UIC issued a call for “Jihad” against the Ethiopian troops whom they accused of invading Somalia and appealed to foreign fighters to join this “Jihad”. The Ethiopian government on 24 December admitted the presence of its combat troops inside Somalia. In an official statement, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi declared that his country had “taken self-defensive measures and started counter-attacking the aggressive extremist forces of the Islamic Courts and foreign terrorist groups."

8.         Civilians have been caught up in the fighting, with reports of several deaths and injuries. Some 760 war wounded have been officially registered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in hospitals in southern Somalia. ICRC has provided war-wounded kits for 1,500 patients and plans to distribute additional kits in Baidoa and Mogadishu, subject to security guarantees by the TFG.