SOMALIA NEEDS GREATER INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO REBUILD, UN ENVOY SAYS

Somalia needs stronger support from the international community if its people are to rebuild their war-shattered society, the top United Nations envoy to the Horn of Africa nation said today as he welcomed a meeting between the Somali President and the United States Secretary of State.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN Special Representative for Somalia, said the meeting between Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hillary Clinton in Nairobi was an important show of support for peace and stability in Somalia.

"It is in line with, and strengthens the positions of, the InterGovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union (EU) on Somalia," he said, according to a press release issued by the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).

"The Government needs strong backing to continue its dialogue with various parties and to increase security for the people," Mr. Ould-Abdallah added.

"The time has come for countries, groups, individuals and especially spoilers to show more understanding and respect for Somalia and help its people to rebuild their society and their country. Respecting Somalia does not mean recycling proposals to hold 'inclusive national conferences' again and again."

The Special Representatives stressed that Somalis themselves are sick and tired of the violence in their country, which has not had a fully functioning national government since 1991, and are ready for dialogue between warring parties.

Despite the signing of peace agreements, the formation of a new Government and election of a new president, Somalia has endured a resurgence of violence in recent months. Fighting between Government forces and the Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam militant groups in Mogadishu since early May have forced over 200,000 people from their homes, many of them for the second time over the course of the past year.
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FORMER SOMALI ARMY OFFICERS TO MEET FOR UN-BACKED TALKS IN US CAPITAL

FORMER SOMALI ARMY OFFICERS TO MEET FOR UN-BACKED TALKS IN US CAPITAL
New York, Jun 3 2009 12:00PM
Former senior army officers from Somalia are slated to meet in Washington D.C. tomorrow for United Nations-backed talks aimed at bolstering security institutions in the strife-torn nation.

The two-day gathering, arranged with the support of the Somali Ministry of Defence and the UN Political Office for Somalia (<"http://www.un-somalia.org/">UNPOS), will look at the structure of Somalia's military before the collapse of the State and the best ways to address the country's current and future security needs.

"We are expecting this to be the first of several fruitful meetings," <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/LSGZ-7SND4K?OpenDocument&query=washington,%20dc&rc=1">said Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia.

Stressing that this is a "great opportunity for Somalis to find within their past some solutions for the future," Mr. Ould-Abdallah noted that the former Somali military officers participating in this meeting are respected for their experience in training soldiers from other African nations.

UNPOS said in a press release that the meeting will serve to prepare for follow-up discussions with Somalia's top military officials, expected to take place in late July, as part of the Government's commitment under the Djibouti Agreement to strengthen its defence forces.

Last week Mr. Ould-Abdallah told a news conference in New York that after visiting the Horn of Africa nation, it was "very sad to see how the city [Mogadishu], the population and the country are taken hostage by those who have been fighting and destroying their country over the last 20 years."

During his visit, he had spoken with Government leaders about the latest developments there, including the breakout of intense fighting in early May between Government troops and the opposition Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam groups. He said that up to 75,000 people, who had fled the country and returned earlier this year, had fled again because of the renewed fighting.
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BAN RECOMMENDS ‘INCREMENTAL APPROACH’ TO SOMALIA PEACE FORCE

Noting hard-won progress in Somalia but also that the situation remains in dangerous flux, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recommended a phased approach to United Nations peacekeeping support to the faction-torn nation.

"While the deployment of a multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation should remain the United Nations goal, realistically achieving that goal will require fulfilling the conditions set out in this and previous reports," he says in a report to the Security Council released today.

Those conditions include the assurance of security for UN personnel and a political process that has gelled enough to permit the diverse political actors to agree on the insertion of international forces, the idea of which remains divisive and could exacerbate conflict if pursued too soon, Mr. Ban says.

In January, the 15-member body signalled its intention to establish a UN force, when conditions permit, in the Horn of Africa country that has lacked a functioning central government since 1991.

In that resolution, Mr. Ban was requested to establish a trust fund to help support the existing African Union (AU) force, known as AMISOM, and to facilitate a logistical support package, training and equipment, in anticipation of its eventual absorption into a UN force.

It requested Mr. Ban, by 15 April, to develop the mandate for the new force that would include support for the flow of humanitarian aid, monitoring a ceasefire and assisting "in supporting the effective re-establishment and training of inclusive Somali security forces, including military, police and judiciary."

In the resulting report, the Secretary-General proposes an approach consisting of three major phases.

The first step would see the UN maintain its support to AMISOM. The Organization will also help build the Somali security institutions, support its political reconciliation process, and provide humanitarian assistance.

The success of this phase, which Mr. Ban says he hopes would last 3 to 4 months, will be gauged through frequent trips to accessible areas of Somalia by relevant UN units.

Then, security conditions permitting, a second phase (also to last 3 to 4 months) will lead to "a light United Nations footprint" in Mogadishu. This phase will see the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) provide direct assistance to the political process on the ground.

It will also have the Department of Field Support (DFS) ensure the delivery of the support package to AMISOM, while the UN country team oversees humanitarian, development and recovery initiatives.

Having satisfied himself of the "acceptability of a UN presence in Mogadishu," the Secretary-General will then refer the matter back to the Security Council to advise and decide on the final phase.

That phase would be a full-fledged UN peacekeeping operation to take over from AMISOM, Mr. Ban says.

In the meantime, he says, he remains deeply concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia, and what he called "the under-funding of life-saving humanitarian assistance."

He urges Member States to come forward with additional pledges to the consolidated appeal for Somalia that will enable the United Nations and its partners to deliver much-needed assistance to populations trapped in a deadly constellation of conflict, drought and economic crisis.

Tomorrow, in Brussels, Mr. Ban will co-chair an International Conference in support of AMISOM and the development of Somali security institutions.
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