United Nations Security Council Resolution 2568 – The situation in SomaliaLetter from the President of the Council on the voting outcome (S/2021/255) and voting details (S/2021/260)

Resolution 2568 (2021)

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions and statements of its President on the situation in Somalia,

Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Somalia,

Welcoming the response of the international community to address instability and insecurity in Somalia, and commending the African Union’s leadership of this response,

Welcoming the progress achieved in Somalia so far, and commending the Somali people, the Somali authorities, the African Union, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and its troop contributing countries, the United Nations and Somalia’s other international partners for their role in this,

Reiterating that the immediate and pressing threat to the stability and security of Somalia, to the Somali people and to Somalia’s neighbours is posed by Al Shabaab and armed opposition groups, condemning in the strongest possible terms their attacks in Somalia and beyond, and expressing deep concern at the loss of civilian life from these attacks,

Paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by AMISOM and Somali Security Forces (SSF) personnel in the fight against Al Shabaab, and commending the contribution of AMISOM to building lasting peace and stability in Somalia,Welcoming the support provided by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) to AMISOM and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and recognising the complementary work of the United Nations Panel of Experts for Somalia and the role of sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council, as, amongst other things, a non-military means of degrading Al Shabaab, and armed opposition groups,

Recognising that the situation in Somalia has evolved since it first authorised AMISOM 14 years ago, including the threat posed by Al Shabaab, further recognising that military action alone will not overcome this threat, reiterating the need, therefore, to pursue an approach that addresses stabilisation and governance challenges, including addressing gaps related to public administration, rule of law, combating organised crime, justice and law enforcement, and preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism, alongside security sector reform and military operations, noting in this regard the potential of international cooperation and support for peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development in Somalia if provided in line with priorities defined by its government and further noting in this regard African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUPCRD) policy and the AUPCRD dedicated Centre in Cairo,

Recalling that the Somali authorities have the primary responsibility for ensuring security in their country, welcoming the FGS’s commitment to conduct joint operations with AMISOM in order to become the primary security provider in Somalia, but noting that Somalia is not yet in a position to take full responsibility for its own security and that degrading Al Shabaab and armed opposition groups and building and sustaining peace will therefore require continued regional and international collaboration and support, stressing that this support should be in-line with the direction provided by the Somalia,

Emphasising the importance of building the capacity of Somali forces and institutions so they are able to manage current and future threats, further emphasising the importance of effective coordination between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and its Federal Member States (FMS) and international partners in order to ensure such capacity building is coherent and aligned with the direction provided by Somalia and enables the SSF to assume progressively greater responsibility for Somalia’s security,

Underlining the critical importance of the FGS and FMS reaching inclusive political agreements, expressing concern at the delays in finalising arrangements for elections in 2021 and urging them to organise free, fair, credible and inclusive elections, in line with the 17 September 2020 agreement, as soon as possible, further urging them to collaborate on security and other national priorities, noting the responsibilities of all parties to improve cooperation and engage in FGS-led discussions, and underscoring that full cooperation of all parties would advance progress on national priorities including the implementation of the National Security Architecture, revised Somalia Transition Plan, ensuring a fully functioning federal system and finalising the constitution as the legal and political foundation for Somalia’s government and institutions,

Recalling its resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions, recognising the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, and stressing the importance of their full, equal and meaningful participation and involvement in all efforts at all levels for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision-making and leadership with regard to conflict prevention and resolution as envisaged in the Somali Women’s Charter,

Condemning violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in Somalia, calling on all parties to act in full compliance with their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and recalling the Working Group Conclusions on Children and Armed Conflict in Somalia (S/AC.51/2020/6),

Expressing serious concern at the humanitarian situation in Somalia and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and the desert locust upsurge recognising that these present a challenge to Somalia’s health system, agriculture, socio-economic situation and humanitarian situation, calling for all parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law, including applicable international humanitarian law, and in a manner consistent with the United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, the provision of humanitarian assistance necessary to support Somalia, noting with appreciation the measures taken by AMISOM and the United Nations to ensure the safety and security of AMISOM and United Nations personnel whilst maintaining continuity of operations, calling for continued efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and locust-infestation, and welcoming the role played by AMISOM in supporting Somali-led disaster management and relief efforts and their efforts to create conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance,

Emphasising the need for adequate risk assessment and risk management strategies by the FGS and the United Nations, of climate change, other ecological changes, natural disasters and other factors on the stability of Somalia,

Taking note of the United Nations mandated (resolutions 2520 (2020), 2472 (2019)) Independent Assessment of International Support to the Whole Security Environment in Somalia Post-2021 (Independent Assessment) and its recommendations, reaffirming paragraph 1 of resolution 2520 (2020) welcomes the revised Somalia Transition Plan (STP) (2021), as formally transmitted to the African Union and the United Nations in February 2021 and urging Somalia, through the Security and Justice Committee, and the African Union, through the Peace and Security Council to finalise its endorsement without delay, expressing its full support for Somalia’s desire to lead the security transition process, further noting the African Union Peace and Security Council’s communiqué of 9 February 2021 on the situation in Somalia, and the Secretary-General’s report of 17 February 2021 (S/2021/113) on the situation in Somalia and looking forward to the African Union’s independent assessment of AMISOM due in May 2021,

Recognising its objective of transferring responsibility for security to Somali authorities, with the aim of Somalia taking the lead in 2021, and achieving full responsibility by the end of 2023, requires a phased approach and that this resolution starts a process which will be informed by:

(a) the UN mandated Independent Assessment, published in January 2021;

(b) the STP, published in February 2021;

(c) the African Union’s planned independent assessment due in May 2021;

(d) the African Union Peace and Security Council’s decisions also due in May 2021, the completion of a revised, joint, African Union-FGS Concept of Operations, in August 2021 as mandated in paragraph 8 of this resolution;

(e) the Secretary-General’s presentation of a proposal for a new mission from 2022, in September 2021 as mandated in paragraph 9 of this resolution and jointly produced by the Secretary-General with the African Union and in consultation with the FGS and donors; and

Determining that the situation in Somalia continues to constitute a threat to regional and international peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

Adopted by the Security Council on 12 March 2021.