United Nations Security Council Resolution 2607 – The situation in Somalia

Resolution 2607 (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, and underscoring the importance of working to prevent destabilising effects of regional disputes from spilling over into Somalia,

Welcoming the agreements reached between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Somalia’s Federal Member States (FMS) on 17 September 2020 and 27 May 2021, urging the FGS and FMS to implement these agreements and conduct peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in 2021,

Believing that sustained progress in state-building in Somalia will prevent terrorist groups, including Al-Shabaab from exploiting the situation in Somalia, expressing concern about continued delays in consolidating Somalia’s federal system, underscoring the importance of progress on national priorities, including the National Security Architecture, the Somalia Transition Plan (2021) (STP), the ninth National Development Plan and the jointly-agreed Mutual Accountability Framework, and reaching agreement on a federated police and justice system, fiscal federalism, power-and resource-sharing, and the constitutional review, in this regard welcoming the roadmap agreed on 27 May 2021, and urging the FGS and the FMS to implement it without delay,

Encouraging the FGS to coordinate with international and regional partners regarding its needs in developing its National Security Forces, noting that these forces require access to weapons and specialist equipment, in accordance with the measures in this resolution, in order to perform their functions effectively,

Welcoming progress made by the FGS on weapons and ammunition management (WAM), including the adoption of the National WAM Strategy, urging continued work codifying and implementing weapons and ammunition management policies including developing an accountable weapons distribution and tracing system for all Somali security forces, recognising that effective weapons and ammunition management is the responsibility of the FGS and FMS, and encouraging Somalia’s partners to support the FGS and FMS with this, and in line with Somalia’s National Security Architecture and the STP,

Condemning the supply of weapons and ammunition to and through Somalia in violation of the arms embargo, especially when they reach Al-Shabaab and affiliates linked to ISIL, and when they undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region, and further condemning continued illegal supply of weapons, ammunition and IED components from Yemen to Somalia,

Condemning Al-Shabaab’s terrorist attacks in Somalia and beyond, expressing grave concern that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the peace, security and stability of Somalia and the region, particularly through its increased use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and exploitation of the licit financial system, and further expressing grave concern at the continued presence in Somalia of affiliates linked to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL also known as Da’esh),

Reaffirming the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including applicable international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts,

Recognising that the threat posed by Al-Shabaab to peace, security and stability in Somalia and the region goes beyond the group’s conventional military action and asymmetric warfare, expressing serious concern at Al-Shaabab’s ability to generate revenue as documented in the final report of the Panel of Experts (the Panel) on Somalia (S/2021/849) welcoming the FGS’ efforts to strengthen the Somali Financial Sector to identify and monitor money laundering risks and combat terrorist financing, noting the steps set out by the FGS in the STP on institutional capacity building, which seek to develop these capabilities, noting the importance of financial services in enabling Somalia’s economic future, further welcoming efforts by the FGS, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Panel to develop a plan to disrupt Al-Shabaab finances, and urging engagement from the FGS, FMS, Somali financial institutions, the private sector and the international community to support this process,

Expressing concern at the continued reports of corruption and diversion of public resources in Somalia, welcoming efforts made by the FGS to reduce corruption including the enactment of the Anti-Corruption Law on 21 September 2019 and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission, as well as the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, welcoming progress made by the FGS and FMS in strengthening public financial management and the positive work of the Financial Reporting Centre, and calling for the FGS and FMS to continue efforts to address corruption, and to continue to accelerate the pace of reform,

Welcoming measures taken by the FGS, FMS and United Nations Member States with charcoal destination markets to reduce the export of charcoal, urging monitoring and control of existing charcoal stockpiles at export points, encouraging further development of Somalia’s National Policy on Charcoal, which aims to develop the sustainable management of domestic charcoal use, to address disposal of stockpiles,

Expressing concern at the reported ability of Al-Shabaab to exploit the trade in sugar and urging the FGS, FMS and regional stakeholders to address this,

Expressing concern at continued reports of illegal and unregulated fishing in waters where Somalia has jurisdiction, noting the link between illegal fishing and Al-Shabaab’s ability to generate revenue, encouraging the Somali authorities, with support from the international community, to ensure fishing licenses are issued in accordance with the appropriate Somali legislation, further encouraging the FGS, FMS and Somali authorities to work with the UNODC, their international partners and other stakeholders to improve maritime domain awareness and enforcement capabilities,

Expressing concern at the situation in Galmadug, reiterating the importance of peaceful dispute resolution both in the run-up to elections in 2021 and beyond, and reaffirming the importance of inclusive politics, and democratic elections in ensuring long-term peace and stability in Somalia,

Expressing serious concern at the humanitarian situation in Somalia, noting the combined threat posed by flooding, drought, locust infestation, forced displacement, and COVID-19, and condemning in the strongest terms any party obstructing the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, any misappropriation or diversion of any humanitarian funds or supplies, and acts of violence against or harassment of humanitarian workers,

Noting with concern reports, including from the Secretary-General, which document worrying levels of sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia, further noting with concern that Somalia remains one of the deadliest conflict areas for children, as outlined in the 2021 Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, further noting with concern the high levels of recruitment of children in armed conflict in violation of international law and high levels of abductions, with Al-Shabaab continuing to be the main perpetrator, and urging the Somali authorities to further strengthen efforts to address these “six grave violations” against children as identified by the Secretary-General, including by implementing measures in line with resolution 2467 (2019),

Reiterating the importance of inclusive dialogue and local reconciliation processes for stability in Somalia, reaffirming the importance of both the FGS and FMS engaging in constructive dialogue to de-escalate tensions between them, and further reiterating that the successful and peaceful conduct of elections in 2021 as planned and agreed can enable Somalia to refocus on addressing pressing problems, including among other things, the threat posed by Al-Shabaab, trafficking of weapons and ammunition, humanitarian needs, floods, drought, and COVID-19 and enable all parties to advance Somalia’s national priorities,

Taking note of the final report of the Panel, welcoming the increased cooperation between the Panel and the FGS, and recalling that panels of experts operate pursuant to mandates from the Security Council,

Expressing support for the FGS in its efforts to reconstruct the country, counter the threat of terrorism, and stop the trafficking of weapons and ammunition, further expressing its intention to ensure the measures in this resolution will enable the FGS in the realisation of these objectives, noting that the security situation in Somalia continues to necessitate these measures, including strict controls on the movement of arms but affirming that it shall keep the situation in Somalia under constant review and that it shall be prepared to review the appropriateness of the measures contained in this resolution, including any modification, possible benchmarks, suspension or lifting of the measures, as may be needed in light of the progress achieved and compliance with this resolution,

Recalling paragraphs 1 to 8 of resolution 2444 (2018), reaffirming that it will continue to follow developments towards the normalisation of relations between Eritrea and Djibouti and will support the two countries in the resolution of these matters in good faith,

Underscores its objective in this resolution is to support state- and peace-building in Somalia including by reducing the threat to peace and security posed by Al-Shabaab and by reducing the destabilising impact of Al-Shabaab’s activities, in Somalia and the region, and by supporting Somalia with security sector reforms, especially weapons and ammunition management, and through the measures and mechanisms outlined in the following operative paragraphs,

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

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

Adopted by the Security Council at its 8905th meeting, on 15 November 2021.