SOMALIA: TERRORISM THREAT OF UNSTABLE SOMALIA;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000026 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC PTER MARR PHUM SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA: TERRORISM THREAT OF UNSTABLE SOMALIA; UNSC SUPPORTS EXTENDING AMISON'S MANDATE USUN NEW Y 00000026 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On January 14, UN Special Representative for Somalia Ould-Abdallah briefed the Security Council on the situation in Somalia. He focused on the terrorism threat posed by Somalia and urged the international community to boost financial support to both AMISOM and the TFG's security sector. Commissioner of the African Union Commission Lamamra and League of Arab States Permanent Observer Mahmassani agreed with Ould-Abdallah's security assessment and called for strengthening AMISOM and the TFG to avoid regional destabilization. Permanent Representative of Somalia Duale confirmed that the TFG will continue to reach out to all elements and focus on reconciliation in 2010. Although Council members agreed that greater security is key to stabilizing Somalia, there was little agreement with Ould-Abdullah's call for a new comprehensive strategy. All delegations agreed to renew AMISOM's mandate, to continue support for the TFG and the Djibouti Peace Process, and to encourage the timely disbursement of financial pledges. END SUMMARY. SRSG OULD-ABDULLAH BRIEFS ON SOMALIA -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On January 14, Special Representative for the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah briefed the Security Council on the situation in Somalia. Ould-Abdallah stated that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has made progress despite ongoing attacks by armed opposition groups. The TFG's progress included consolidating its authority in Mogadishu, establishing a federal budget, and training security forces. In spite of this progress, Ould-Abdallah noted two challenges to stabilizing Somalia. The first is an "absence of concrete commitment to Somalia" by the international community, which has encouraged extremism. The second is translating international political support into concrete financial support. Ould-Abdallah underscored the terrorism threat posed by Somalia's continuing lack of security, and stressed that the international community must address the crisis' root causes, lamenting the eight billion dollars spent over the past 15 years that addressed only the symptoms of instability. Ould-Abdallah asked for AMISOM troop salaries to be increased to the level of UN peacekeepers, as well as for the timely disbursement of salaries and provision of equipment. He also urged the Council to act against spoilers and called for an integrated UN Mission in Somalia. ¶3. (SBU) Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union Commission Ramtane Lamamra stated that extremists had stepped up their actions in Somalia in hopes of unraveling the Djibouti Peace Process. He said that the links between al-Shabaab and international jihadism have been confirmed, along with the relationship between al-Qaida and the influx of foreign fighters into Somalia. Compared with the entire previous period of its existence, twice as many AMISOM forces were killed in 2009. Lamamra called for an extension of AMISOM's mandate for 12 months and asked the Council to impose a no-fly zone and naval blockade to help thwart the insurgency. Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States Yahya Mahmassani described the situation in Somalia as the main challenge to peace and security in the Horn of Africa. He stated that a political solution must be based on national consensus achieved through the Djibouti Peace Process and that all political parties must be included in the dialogue. He urged the international community to meet the humanitarian challenge through close cooperation with aid agencies, and called for regional groups and states to make financial contributions to Somalia and to support AMISOM. He also asked the Council to "take necessary measures" to tackle the root causes of piracy in Somalia. ¶4. (SBU) Permanent Representative of Somalia Elmi Ahmed Duale stressed the importance of enhancing the rule of law capacity, especially the judiciary. He also emphasized that Somali national security forces, including the army, police and coast guard must be rebuilt. To do so, he asked for the urgent release of financial pledges made in Brussels, stating that the delay in resource provision is causing major difficulties for the TFG. Duale highlighted the success of his government's new transparent financial mechanism, created by a private international firm, and noted the 1,000 coast guard forces trained by the TFG who lack equipment to do USUN NEW Y 00000026 002.2 OF 002 their job. He explained that the difficult security situation called for a much larger UN footprint and asked for AMISOM to become part of a UN Peacekeeping operation. He stated that the TFG will continue to reach out to all elements and plans to focus on reconciliation, recovery and reconstruction and regional cooperation this year. COUNCIL FOCUSES ON SECURITY AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In closed consultations, Ould-Abdullah urged Council members to move in a new strategic direction vis--vis Somalia, stating that "dialogue has become a business." He called for a review of the international community's approach and said that the current level of assistance is not sustainable. Somalia needs to move from a "failed state to a fragile state." In response, the United Kingdom rejected Ould-Abdullah's call for a new direction, stating that the international community has, "the right set of priorities; the key is implementation of strategy." France agreed, stating, "there is no realistic alternative strategy for what we are doing." All Council members focused on the importance of supporting the Djibouti Peace Process, boosting the TFG's security sector capacity and disbursing financial pledges made in Brussels. Many noted the importance of greater donor coordination and the TFG's need to expand the area under its control. ¶6. (SBU) All delegations called for AMISOM to be strengthened to 8,000 troops and Uganda asked for the timely disbursement of equipment, salary payments, as well as increased troop rotations. Ambassador DiCarlo emphasized improving Somalia's security to create political stability, and called for the deployment of AMISOM to its fully-authorized strength. She noted the United States' disbursement of more than $171 million in bilateral assistance for logistical and equipment support, as well as pre-deployment training for AMISOM's troops. Many delegations asked for a 12-month renewal of AMISOM's mandate, including Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Several delegations linked the situation in Somali to future instability in the region and lamented the role of outside spoilers. Reconstruction and development was also raised, with Turkey offering to host a conference on this topic. ¶7. (SBU) Ambassador DiCarlo noted the dire humanitarian situation, and emphasized that the United States will continue to work with the international community to meet Somalia's needs. The United Kingdom stated that the Council can play a role by encouraging resumption of the World Food Program's activities in southern Somalia and by encouraging countries to boost financial contributions. Several delegations expressed concern over the recruitment of child soldiers; Lebanon expressed concern about the risks faced by journalists in Somalia. Many pointed to piracy as another symptom of Somalia's instability, including Nigeria, which noted the phenomenon of "copy-cat" piracy off the coast of West Africa. The United Kingdom said that the international community is "too complacent" on piracy, and that it needs to address the long-term causes, rather than only the symptoms. Lebanon echoed these sentiments, recommending that the international community focus on piracy's economic and social causes. UN's Presence in Somalia -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Several delegations, including the United Kingdom, stated that the time is not right for a UN Peacekeeping operation in Somalia. However, a number of delegations, including Gabon, Lebanon, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Nigeria, expressed support for the incremental approach to establishing a UN footprint in Somalia as mandated by UNSCR ¶1872. Japan agreed that the UN should move to the second phase of the approach, a light UN footprint in Somalia. Brazil said that it supports the "prompt construction of UN facilities in Somalia." Ambassador DiCarlo also welcomed the UN's work to establish a presence, including UNPOS's recent security sector assessment, co-led by the United States and the European Union. RICE