Network
of Eritreans for Constitutional
Governance
(NECG)
African Union (Addis Ababa)
22 May 2009
Somalia:
Communique of the 190th Meeting of the Peace And Security Council
The Peace and Security Council of the
African Union (AU), at its 190th meeting held on 22 May 2009,
considered the situation in Somalia in light of the outcome of the
33rd Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers on the
security and political situation in Somalia, held in Addis Ababa on
20 May 2009.
Council,
1. Recalls the press statements
issued by the Chairperson of the Commission on 12 and 19 May 2009, as
well as its earlier communiqués on the situation in Somalia;
2. Welcomes the convening of the
Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers, expresses its
strong support to the communiqué adopted on that occasion and
reiterates its full support to the efforts being made by IGAD in
support of the peace process, the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) and the people of Somalia in the face of the aggression
perpetrated against them;
3. Strongly condemns the
aggression perpetrated against the TFG of Somalia and the civilian
population in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia by armed groups,
including foreign elements, bent on undermining the peace and
reconciliation process, as well as regional stability. Council
expresses deep concern at the increased presence of foreign elements
in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, as corroborated by the
United Nations Secretary-General in his report of 16 April 2009;
4. Also expresses deep concern
at the reports regarding the support provided to these armed groups,
through training, provision of weapons and ammunitions and funding,
by external actors, including Eritrea, in flagrant violation of the
United Nations arms embargo. Council notes the condemnation by the
IGAD Extraordinary Session of Eritrea, as contained in paragraphs 5
and 6 of its communiqué, for its actions in support of the
armed groups operating in Somalia, including its calls for the
overthrow of the TFG;
5. Requests the United Nations
Security Council, in line with the relevant provisions of the IGAD
communiqué, to: (i) take immediate measures, including the
imposition of a no-fly zone and blockade of sea ports, to prevent the
entry of foreign elements into Somalia, as well as flights and
shipments carrying weapons and ammunitions to armed groups inside
Somalia which are carrying out attacks against the TFG, the civilian
population and AMISOM, (ii) impose sanctions
against all those foreign actors, both within and outside the region,
specially Eritrea, providing support to the armed groups
engaged in destabilization activities in Somalia, attacks against the
TFG, the civilian population and AMISOM, as well as against all the
Somali individuals and entities working towards undermining the peace
and reconciliation efforts and regional stability;
6. Demands that the armed groups
currently involved in attacks against the TFG, the civilian
population and AMISOM, immediately put an end to their actions, which
are tantamount to an attempt at unconstitutional change of
Government, in violation of the relevant AU instruments;
7. Reiterates its call to all
the Somali parties who have not yet done so, to join the peace
process without any further delay;
8. Appeals to all the AU Member
States to urgently provide all the required support, including
military, to the TFG to enable it neutralize the armed elements
carrying out attacks against it;
9. Stresses the need for all
concerned, both within the region and outside, to refrain from any
action likely to undermine the ongoing efforts and threaten the
security of AMISOM personnel, including through provision of
equipment, funds and other forms of support to the armed groups
opposed to the TFG. Council requests the Chairperson of the
Commission to reach out to all concerned to convey the AU position,
which, in line with that of IGAD, is to fully support the TFG, as the
legitimate authority of Somalia, and reverse the aggression
perpetrated against the TFG and the Somali people;
10. Expresses deep concern at
the worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia, and calls on AU
Member States and the international community at large to urgently
provide needed support to address the situation;
11. Reiterates its appreciation
to the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) and AMISOM, as well as to
all countries and institutions providing support to the Mission.
Council welcomes the pledge by Sierra Leone to contribute one
battalion to AMISOM and urges AU Member States and partners to
provide the required logistical support for the early deployment of
this battalion. Furthermore, Council urges the AU Member States that
have pledged troops to AMISOM to urgently deploy them. Council
strongly condemns all attempts to demonize AMISOM and the TCCs;
12. Welcomes the outcome of the
Pledging Conference for Somalia held in Brussels, Belgium, from 22 to
23 April 2009, commends all the countries and organizations that have
announced contributions and stresses the need for the speedy
fulfillment of the pledges made to facilitate the ongoing efforts to
strengthen AMISOM and the Somali security institutions;
13. Reaffirms the determination
of the AU to do everything in its power to sustain the ongoing peace
and reconciliation efforts, support the TFG and to remain engaged in
Somalia, in particular through the continued and strengthened
presence of AMISOM, pending the deployment of a UN peacekeeping
operation;
14. Agrees to reconvene in
mid-June 2009, to review comprehensively, on the basis of the report
to be submitted by the Chairperson of the Commission, the situation
in Somalia and take the required decisions, particularly with respect
to the renewal and the need to strengthen the mandate of AMISOM;
15. Decides to remain seized of
the matter.
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