‘Stand behind Somalia at this critical juncture,’ says Brussels declaration

MOGADISHU – The world must support the Somali government’s efforts to take over security responsibilities from the African Union peacekeepers who have been in the country for more than ten years, a joint Somali and European Union declaration urged.

A high-level security meeting on Somalia was held last week at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss a transition plan that allows the Somali government to “fully assume its own security and guarantee safety and stability to its people.”

The plan, which must be gradual, realistic and conditions-based, was on April 19 adopted by the nation’s Council of Ministers and later on April 30 approved by the African Union Peace and Security Committee.

“Somalia is on the verge of an historic change,” said a joint Somali and European Union declaration after the three-day meeting. “Participants emphasized the importance of political stability in order to make progress on the reform agenda, and encouraged all national and international stakeholders to stand behind Somalia at this critical juncture.”

The transition plan is built on three pillars: Operational, institutional capacity building and supporting stabilization activities. It requires the transformation of all Somali security forces and African Union peacekeepers and of how the international support is delivered to adjust to the new reality on the ground. The plan’s first phase is expected to end June 2019.

A Somalia-led task force will be set up “to develop and implement a strategy to mobilise further resources” for the plan, said the Brussels declaration, which emphasizes the process’s Somali ownership.

“The transition,” it said, “is first and foremost about building Somali capacity in the areas of security, justice, good governance and service delivery, enabling the Somali authorities to regain full control of their territory and to provide security and stability for all its population.”

The Brussels call is sure to strengthen the hand of the national government and provide a much-needed impetus for its bid to blunt foreign meddling and tame self-seeking politicians who would want to create autonomous regions in the country that are not beholden to its dictates.

Prime Ministery Hassan Ali Khaire and Deputy Secretary of European External Action Service General Pedro Serrano co-chaired the meeting. More than ten countries and organizations attended it, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates as well as representatives from the United Nations, the African Union, troop contributing countries and politicians from regional administrations.

Ahead of the Somalia Security meeting, Khaire met with EU’s Vice President and Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini who “welcomed the commitment of the government of Somalia to progressively assume the lead role in providing security for its people and to implement reforms.”

Mogherini told Khaire that the EU is ready to support Somalia using all available policies.

“They stressed the European Union’s critical role as the main partner in support of the country’s transition,” said the EU in a statement. “They noted that, while high challenges remained, some encouraging progress had been made and should be maintained.”

The declaration urged the Somali national government to accelerate its security and political reform agendas because the two are interconnected and crucial for the country’s elections in 2020 and 2021.

It also urged Mogadishu to fast track its financial reform, biometric registration, electronic payroll, civilian oversight control, de-mobilization of unqualified personnel, passage of a Gratuity Bill currently in Parliament and integration of and support to regional forces.

Somali national forces should be trained with a unified Somali military doctrine, it also urged.

The Somalia-EU declaration follows another call in February by the African Union’s peace and Security Council on all “actors in Somalia to coordinate and harmonize their support to Somalia, including the training provided to the (national security forces,) to avoid mixed messages to the (national army) and other institutions in this critical stage of stabilizing the country.”

The European Union said it’s ready to open talks with the national government on a direct budgetary support of up to €100 million. The offer comes after Somalia’s international partners said on April 19 that the time is conducive for pre-arrears clearance owed to International Financial Institutions, and that a pathway to international concessional financing and, ultimately, debt relief is open. The gesture was made during the Somalia Economic Round-table at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington.

The Brussels declaration said the presence of the African Union mission in Somalia “remains critical for the consolidation and further advances of political processes, the strengthening of Somalia security institutions and their gradual assumption of security responsibilities.”

In its February 15 communique, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council stressed the need for predictable and sustainable funding for its mission in Somalia, particularly from the UN assessed contributions “with a view to enabling the Mission to more effectively discharge its mandate.” The AU also emphasized the importance to replenish its Somalia mission’s Trust Fund so as the continental force can train the Somali army.

Somalia and its security partners will again meet on June 16 this year to take stock of the transition plan’s progress.