International Contact Group on Somalia

Final Communiqué

 

 

The 22nd meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) on Somalia

was held from 2-3 July 2012 in Rome under the chairmanship of the United

Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Dr

Augustine Mahiga, together with the ICG Co-chairs (Norway and the USA).

The Italian Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi, Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden

of the Transitional Federal Parliament of the Republic of Somalia, Prime

Minister Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali of the Transitional Federal Government of

the Republic of Somalia and representatives of Puntland, Galmudug and Ahlu

Sunna Wal Jama’a addressed the meeting.

 

Political Process

 

The ICG reviewed progress on the political track, and reiterated its firm

determination that the Transition ends on 20 August 2012 in accordance with

the Transitional Federal Charter, Djibouti Agreement, Kampala Accord,

Roadmap and subsequent consultative meetings. In particular, the ICG

welcomed agreement among the Principals at their meeting in Nairobi on 22

June on a final draft Constitution. This will now go to the National Constituent

Assembly for provisional adoption.

 

The ICG expressed concern over repeatedly missed deadlines and

urged the Somali stakeholders to adhere to the latest timelines, including for

the opening (12 July) and closing (20 July) of the National Constituent

Assembly, selection (15 July) and induction (20 July) of the new Federal

Parliament, and election of the Speaker/Deputies (4 August) and President

(20 August). The ICG called for the immediate activation of the Elders’

Arbitration Committee, Roadmap Signatories Coordination Office, Technical

Facilitation Committee and Technical Selection Committee and for the earliest

possible conclusion of the selection process. With regard to the Federal

Parliament, the Group welcomed the need for the new body to meet Somali

people’s expectations, especially in terms of the quality and commitment of its

Members, gender balance, more effective working practices and ability to hold

the executive arm of government to account. A joint legislative workplan

should be developed between the new Parliament and Government, including

with a view to strengthening the legislative framework for the promotion and

protection of human rights and transitional justice.

 

The ICG noted the joint UN/AU/IGAD open letter of 1 May, warning all

would-be spoilers that anyone obstructing the peace process would be

referred to the IGAD Council of Ministers and possibly also to the UN

Monitoring Group with a view to the imposition of sanctions.

The ICG noted progress in many areas of the Roadmap, and called for

the remaining tasks to be completed on time. For the time being, the focus is

rightly on ending the Transition on schedule. But the Group invited the next

Government of Somalia within sixty days of its formation to set out its priorities

and associated resource requirements with a view to securing international

support. As a first step, the Group agreed to hold a preliminary, high-level

discussion on emerging priorities in the margins of the United Nations General

Assembly in September.

 

The ICG condemned the recent violent attack against places of worship

in Kenya and the kidnapping of aid workers.

The Group offered to assist in building support inside Somalia for

respect for all human rights and the rule of law.

 

Security

 

The ICG commended recent further military advances by the African

Union Mission in Somalia, TFG forces and their allies including Ethiopia in

response to continuing aggression by Al Shabaab, and paid tribute to

AMISOM troop contributing countries and Somali security forces. The Group

reiterated its condolences and support to the families of all those who have

lost their lives in the fighting. While acknowledging the improvement by

AMISOM in the protection of civilians, the Group called upon all actors to

ensure protection of civilians with particular attention to women and children.

The Group also called for unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance by all

persons in need.

 

During the course of the meeting, the ICG witnessed the signature by

Hussein Arab Isse (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the

TFG) and Dr Augustine Mahiga (Special Representative of the United Nations

Secretary-General for Somalia) of a Plan of Action on Children Associated

with Armed Forces.

 

The ICG welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution

2036, which expanded the operations and support package for AMISOM and

raised its troop ceiling. The Group welcomed the new uniformed personnel

from Djibouti, Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The Group also welcomed

TFG efforts to unify Somali forces under national command and control. The

Group acknowledged the pressing need for more and better coordinated

international assistance for both AMISOM and Somali security forces,

especially from new donors. The Group also urged the TFG with support from

the United Nations and AMISOM to put in place quickly arrangements for

reintegrating former combatants and supporting their dependants as a prelude

to full-scale demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration. At the same time,

the Group called upon Al Shabaab and all other armed opposition groups

constituting terrorist threats to renounce violence and to embrace the peace

process.

 

Over the next few years, Somalia will need to take increased

responsibility for its own security including through budgeting and paying for

salaries. The ICG called on the Somali authorities to expedite the

development of Somali security forces.

 

The President of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia

reported on recent developments. The ICG recalled the Final Statement of

the Dubai Second High Level Public-Private Counter Piracy Conference held

on 28 June, which inter alia called for the development of regional and

national maritime capacity and for participants to respect relevant international

law related to fighting piracy in international waters.

 

Stabilisation

 

As large parts of south and central Somalia come under the control of

the Government, there is a need to provide urgent and substantive support for

stabilisation and the development of effective regional, district and local

administrations through democratic and popular participation to prevent a

power vacuum. This support must continue beyond the Transition. The ICG

welcomed the ongoing development by the TFG of a strategy for

Reconciliation and Stabilisation, and agreed that it should form the basis of

the framework for international coordination. It agreed that partners should

better coordinate with the Government their activities in the newly-recovered

areas as well as in Mogadishu. The ICG recognised that both national and

international partners needed to increase and align their efforts to strengthen

credible and legitimate local administrations. The Group also discussed an

Italian document on District-Based Peace-Building, which could provide a

source of inspiration for future programmes. It noted the importance of

restoring dispute resolution mechanisms and promoting local and national

reconciliation, including through dialogue, within the framework of stabilisation.

The Group acknowledged the progress made by the regional

administrations especially in security and governance, including in Somaliland,

Puntland and Galmudug and territories under the administration of Ahlu

Sunna Wal Jama’a. These efforts should continue to be encouraged and

supported.

 

Justice

 

The ICG also agreed on the need to support the comprehensive

development of the independent justice sector in Somalia, in particular by

increasing support for access to justice for women and vulnerable groups in

addition to gender responsive policing, justice and corrections throughout the

country based on both formal and informal systems of justice, adherence to

international standards for justice and human rights (including in the fight

against terrorism) and dialogue throughout the process with Somali civil

society. It also agreed to support the re-establishment of justice and rule of

law services in the newly-recovered areas.

International Coordination.

 

The ICG welcomed the outcome of three major conferences which

have taken place since its last meeting in February. The first, in London, gave

fresh impetus to the political process, increased support for AMISOM and

Somali security forces, and reinvigorated efforts to tackle piracy and terrorism.

A Mutual Accountability Board, which should help to improve mutual financial

transparency and mutual accountability and to combat corruption, now needs

to be discussed among all relevant Somali and international stakeholders.

The second, in Istanbul, usefully underscored the importance of reconciliation,

institution-building and reconstruction. In particular, the conference

highlighted the need for large-scale multi-year funding for infrastructure

projects, state-building and uninterrupted delivery of basic services and

welcomed the establishment of a multi-donor trust fund for post-Transition

financing. The third, in Dubai, will help to improve the coordination of our

collective efforts to eradicate piracy by means of a comprehensive approach

on land as well as at sea, including capacity-building.

 

In anticipation of the end of the Transition and in order to make our

collective efforts in support of Somalia even more effective, the ICG agreed

further to explore a number of improvements to its working methods, including

the possible establishment of an inter-sessional working group covering the

Political Process and strengthened links with existing bodies dealing with

Development, Justice and Security.

 

The International Contact Group thanked the Government of the

Republic of Italy for hosting this meeting, and welcomed an offer from South

Africa to host the next meeting in early 2013.

 

Participants/observers

 

African Union, Belgium, Burundi, Canada, China, Denmark, Djibouti, East

African Community, Egypt, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France,

Germany, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, International

Development Law Organisation, Islamic Development Bank, Italy, Japan,

Kenya, Korea (Republic), League of Arab States, Netherlands, North Atlantic

Treaty Organisation, Norway, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar,

Saudi Arabia, Somalia (TFG, TFP, Puntland, Galmudug, Ahlu Sunna Wal

Jama’a), South Arica, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uganda,

United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States of

America and the World Bank.