Security Council Presidential Statement on Somalia – 22 May 2014

NEW YORK, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “The Security Council welcomes the Secretary-General’s 3 April letter to the President of the Security Council (‘the letter’ — S/2014/243), identifying options for supporting the federal Government of Somalia to meet its obligations under the partial suspension of the arms embargo. The Security Council underlines that improved arms and ammunition management in Somalia is a fundamental component of greater peace and stability for both Somalia and the region.

“The Security Council underscores the need for the federal Government of Somalia to show tangible progress in complying with the terms of the partial suspension of the arms embargo, as highlighted in both the letter and resolution 2142 (2014). The Security Council remains concerned about the diversion of arms and ammunition, including potentially to Al-Shabaab, which was also highlighted in resolution 2142 (2014). In that regard, the Security Council welcomes the federal Government of Somalia’s establishment of an Arms and Ammunition Steering Committee as the overall body responsible for arms and ammunition management. The Security Council highlights the important role which should also be played by the Weapons and Ammunition Management Technical Working Group (Working Group) with respect to improving weapons management. The Security Council reiterates that its decision in October 2014 on the continuation of the suspension of the arms embargo will be informed by the federal Government of Somalia’s compliance with its obligations to carry out Security Council decisions.

“The Security Council underlines the importance of the international community supporting the federal Government of Somalia in the areas identified in the letter. In particular the Security Council underlines the urgent need for international support to the Office of the National Security Adviser, which coordinates the federal Government’s reporting obligations to the Security Council, as well as oversees the national architecture for weapons and ammunition management. The Security Council appeals to Member States and relevant international and regional organizations to provide support and equipment which focus on:

i) Improving the federal Government of Somalia’s reporting to the Security Council on the structure of its security forces, as well as improving its notifications to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea (‘Sanctions Committee’);

ii) Completing a baseline registration survey of the Somali Security Sector;

iii) Starting a weapons marking and registration process, in order to inform future verification activities.

“The Security Council encourages Member States to provide financing and in-kind resources to accelerate key deliverables in the 2014 work plan of the Arms and Ammunition Steering Committee and its Working Group.

“The Security Council also emphasizes in particular the need for five weapons marking machines, equipment required for mobile marking units for armouries outside of Mogadishu and interim weapons storage facilities.

“The Security Council underlines to all Member States and international organizations that all deliveries of military equipment and notifications should be coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser, which the federal Government of Somalia has identified as the coordinating entity for arms and ammunition management.

“The federal Government of Somalia should consider establishing a joint verification team with international experts. The team should focus on physical verification of arms and ammunition provided to the federal Government, as well as the systems of control in place for arms and ammunition management. The team should focus on supporting the federal Government of Somalia in complying with the decisions of the Security Council and the Sanctions Committee, in particular with respect to arms and ammunition management. The Security Council underlines that this team would complement the work of, and should coordinate with, the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG), in order to avoid any duplication in their respective activities. The Security Council encourages Member States, UNSOM, and relevant UN agencies, funds and programmes, to support the establishment of this team. The Security Council further encourages Member States to provide sufficient financial resources to support the prompt establishment of this team.

“The Security Council highlights that the work of the SEMG is of paramount importance. The Security Council reiterates paragraph 32 of resolution 2111 (2013) and reminds the federal Government of Somalia of the importance of cooperating with the Group. In that context, the Security Council encourages the SEMG to increase its presence in Mogadishu and step up its interaction with the Office of the National Security Adviser, including by regular participation in the meetings of the Working Group.

“The Security Council encourages all relevant members of the international community, UNSOM, UN agencies and the African Union to support the federal Government of Somalia in improving its arms and ammunition management, including through providing financial and in-kind support to enhance their capacity. The Security Council underlines that the federal Government of Somalia is ultimately responsible for the management of its weapons and military equipment. The Security Council highlights its expectation that the Federal Government of Somalia will make substantive progress in the months ahead.”