SOMALIA - November 24 Joint Security Committee Communique

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002673

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SUBJECT: SOMALIA - November 24 Joint Security Committee Communique

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Summary and Comment
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1. (U) Summary and Comment: At the conclusion of their November
20-24 talks in Naivasha, Kenya, the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) and Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) Joint
Security Committee (JSC) issued a communique, the text of which
appears in paragraph 3. The JSC agreed to set up joint offices in
Somalia, conduct ceasefire monitoring, and form a combined police
force. According to contacts at the UN Political Office for
Somalia, the JSC also agreed on a working document and budget to
present to donors possibly as early as November 28. The working
document reportedly will propose combining roughly 2,700
newly-trained TFG police with an additional yet-to-be-trained 2,700+
ARS police.


2. (SBU) Members of the JSC told us they were proud of this latest
successful round of talks and they look forward to continuing their
work together as soon as possible in Somalia. An UNPOS contact
involved in the meeting expressed satisfaction with the outcome, but
noted that donors will have to deal with financial accountability
problems that have prevented recent salary payments to the Ugandan
trained TFG police. United Nations Political Office for Somalia
(UNPOS) staff will recommend to the Secretary General's Special
Representative for Somalia (SRSG) that he approache Arab countries
to fund security forces' salaries. The results of this JSC meeting,
coupled with a groundbreaking session of the High Level Committee in
Djibouti (septel) represent significant and positive progress on the
Djibouti Process. End summary and comment.

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Text of Joint Security Committee Communique
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3. (U) Begin Text:
JOINT SECURITY COMMITTEE
COMMUNIQUE
24TH November, 2008

-- The Joint Security Committee met in Naivasha 20 - 24 November
2008 under the auspices of the United Nations, the African Union
(AMSIOM) and with the support of international security experts.

-- The Parties reaffirmed their commitment to fulfill its
obligations under international humanitarian law in respect to
civilian protection and human rights.

The Cessation of Hostilities

-- The Parties reaffirmed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of
26 October and agreed to continue to work to its speedy
implementation;

-- The Parties established a Cessation of Hostilities Supervisory
Committee which shall undertake further planning and develop
detailed proposals to strengthen the Agreement and which shall
report to the Joint Security Committee, which in turn shall report
to their leadership through the High Level Committee;

-- The Parties called on all Somalis to actively support the
implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities and the peace-making
process and reiterated their view that all armed groups and Somali
communities should join both the process and structures being
established to develop peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

The Joint Security Committee (JSC)

-- The Parties developed detailed proposals to strengthen the Joint
Security Committee, including the establishment of JSC headquarters
and liaison offices;

-- The Parties agreed that the JSC shall in addition to fulfilling
its mandate have supervisory and advisory roles to the transitional
security forces of Somalia, including the Somali Police Force;

-- The Parties established Working Groups that developed further
detailed planning regarding the functions and responsibilities of
the JSC, the development of a full ceasefire and the establishment
of a Verification and Monitoring Mission (VMM),the integration and
realignment of the Somali Police Force and the integration and

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strengthening of transitional security forces of Somalia.

The Verification and Monitoring Mission (VMM)

-- The Parties agreed to establish a Verification and Monitoring
Mission and commenced planning for its establishment;

-- The Parties agreed to the framework for the Verification and
Monitoring Mission;

-- The Purpose of the VMM shall be to promote a full ceasefire in
Somalia;

-- The Parties agreed to commence discussions with the international
community with regard to the role of Third parties in the VMM,
specifically concerning the role and support of the United Nations,
the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and the Arab League.

The Somali Police Force

-- The Parties established a joint working group for the integration
and the realignment of the Somali Police Force;

-- The Parties agreed that the Somali Police Force is a national
police operating under the rule of law for the protections of
civilians and human rights and within the Somali Police Force rules
and regulations;

-- The Parties agreed that recruitment be open to all Somali men and
women willing to apply for selection;

-- The Parties agreed to accelerate the recruitment and training of
new candidates for the Somali Police Force;

-- The Parties agreed that the Somali Police Force will have a
unified command.

The Transitional Security Forces

-- The Parties agreed to develop detailed plans for the
establishment of interim joint security forces and command
structures in support of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement;

-- These interim joint security forces and command structures will
operate under the authority of the Joint Security Committee and will
act in support of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

The Parties thanked the United Nations, the African Union (AMSIOM)
and the international security experts facilitating the meeting and
requests the International
Community to provide the necessary assistance, both technical and
financial, required to implement the measures agreed upon.

/Signed/
Colonel Omar Hashi
Chairman, ARS-JSC

/Signed/
Hon. Mohamed Mohamua Haid
Chairman, TFG-JSC.
End text.

RANNEBERGER