General Assembly Security Council

UNSC Briefing & Consultations: UNSOM (UN Mission in Somalia) 

[Wednesday, 17 November 2021; 1000 hrs EST/ 8:30pm IST] 

 

INDIA STATEMENT

By

Ambassador R. Ravindra

Deputy Permanent Representative

 

Let me begin by thanking SRSG Mr. James Swan for updating us on the latest report of the Secretary General on Somalia and the implementation of mandates of UNSOM and UNSOS (UN Support Office for Somalia). I also thank Special Representative of Chairman of AU Commission & Head of AMISOM  Amb. Francisco Madeira for his briefing. I thank Ms. Asha Siyad, Executive Director of the Somali Women’s Leadership Initiative, for sharing her insights with us. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of Somalia at today’s meeting.

 

2. Recent progress related to elections has been reassuring. After months of delay and political brinkmanship, the electoral cycle has moved forward. Elections to the Upper House have been concluded successfully last weekend. This is an encouraging development, particularly the fact that 13 out of 54 senators are women. The next step is elections to the Lower House, for which process has commenced. We hope that the Somali leadership and institutions will continue to move forward with the same level of commitment and complete the electoral process within the agreed timelines. The peaceful conduct of elections in accordance with the agreements, is important for the democratic future of Somalia.

 

3. A successful security transition towards stability in Somalia cannot be envisaged without the ownership of its representative democracy. As we draw closer to the deadline for finalizing discussions on the security transition in Somalia, we underscore the importance of completion of elections and peaceful transition of power. Towards this end, we encourage UNSOM to continue to work closely with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) in providing the requisite electoral support. 

 

4. The security situation in Somalia continues to remain critical. The Secretary-General’s report indicates a monthly average of 273 incidents, most of them perpetrated by Al-Shabaab. Consistent IED attacks and suicide bombings documented during the reporting period are a cause of concern.  These acts of terrorism by Al-Shabaab must be condemned in the strongest terms. Al-Shabaab remains largely responsible for numerous civilian casualties and human rights violations, including against women and children. We express our full support to the operations conducted by the Somali Security Forces and AMISOM against Al-Shabaab. 

 

5. As we discuss the important security transition, the Somali people will need international community’s continued attention and support in dealing with a terrorist group like Al-Shabaab. We, therefore, welcome the recently adopted Somalia Sanctions Resolution with a larger focus on sanctions on Al-Shabaab. It is important that we all summon our collective political will in dealing with terrorism in the Horn of Africa. Preventing Al-Shabaab from accessing financial resources is crucial to counter the threat of terrorism, while linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime must be recognized and addressed. 

 

6. We welcome the recent meeting held in Mogadishu between Somalia and the African Union Peace and Security Council on the future of AMISOM. We are hopeful that there will be a positive outcome and a consensus on the way forward. A stable security transition in Somalia demands firm leadership and collaboration of the Somali government and the African Union. We support a phased handover of security responsibilities to Somali security forces with a view to transferring full responsibility by 2023. 

 

7. The humanitarian situation, meanwhile, remains dire. Somalia continues to reel from multiple factors like COVID-19 pandemic and desert locusts.  The international community must do more to bridge this gap and meet the humanitarian needs.

 

8. India and Somalia share two millennia of civilizational exchanges across the seas. India continues to support Somalia through developmental assistance and capacity building programs. Despite COVID‐19 restrictions, India continued its assistance to Somalia through capacity building on virtual platform which has seen participation of 34 Somali candidates up to now. 17 Somalia students have been offered scholarship through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) during 2021‐22. The Government of India also gifted 27 midi‐buses to Somalia early this year. 

 

9. Somalia is at an important juncture of its development path and the next few months will determine the democratic future of Somalia. We believe the people of Somalia and its leadership will continue to show determination and resolve by making the right choices. India will continue to support Somalia and its people as they strive for a stable, secure, and peaceful future. 

 

I thank you.

 

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