Statement by H. E. Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali,
The Prime Minister of Somalia.
Meeting of the International Coordination and Monitoring Group on Somalia – 09 January 2011
H. E. Augustine Mahiga, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia.
Excellencies, distinguished participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an honour to be here with you today. Let me take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Mahiga, SRSG and the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) for hosting this important conference, and the first of the International Coordination and Monitoring Group on Somalia.
This is an excellent forum, which brings together international Community and key stakeholder for Somalia, and clearly demonstrates the United Nations commitment to the support and protection of the people of Somalia. We are glad to have the opportunity to discuss the issues that are important to the people of Somalia in a transparent and objective manner.
Today, we will delve in some detail into the progress that has been made since the signing of the Roadmap on 06 September 2011 and I am sure that we are all here to contribute towards a common understanding of the way forward and how we can all bring peace and stability to Somalia.
Let me take this opportunity by offering my heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation for the ongoing support of the United Nations, the African Union (AU) and the International community to Somalia.
Excellencies and distinguished participants,
For the last 5 months since I have been appointed Prime Minister, my government has been working very hard to implement the highly ambitious Roadmap plan, and we have been doing it with very little resources, limited human capacity and in an increasingly tense political climate. Despite these challenges, we are proud to report significant progress.
The Roadmap is the foundation plan and while we are putting our top priority into implementing all tasks, we also need to continue delivering basic services and humanitarian assistance to those people desperate for help.
We have published our first quarterly report at the end of November, and I am sure you have read it already. Before I go into specific achievements, let me make some general observations:
- The Roadmap was drafted at a moment in time, and the situation on the ground changes daily. So for example, the humanitarian situation and the massive response efforts by our government are not reflected in the Roadmap. Similarly, although the Roadmap envisions that the TFG would be extending administrative control over new territories, nobody could have imagined 6 months ago that we would have all of Mogadishu, Beletweyn, Dhobley, and other parts in Jubba regions, Gedo and some parts of Bakool regions.
- The end of the transition represents a significant milestone in Somalia’s political landscape and this represents a risky prospect for many individuals. Consequently, the process of completing the Roadmap tasks, especially the political ones, involves a tremendous number of consultations, side-meetings, dispatching envoys, etc. all in an effort to secure the buy-in for the next step, or to neutralize or address the loudest objections. These efforts are neither visible nor measurable in the Roadmap checkboxes, but they are taking place behind the scenes. They also take time and sensitivity and as much as we’d like to, they cannot be rushed.
- Because of our severely limited capacity, the Somali government needs assistance with both financial and human resources. We are fortunate to have many nations come to our assistance. However, because of the same limited capacity, we are not capable of coordinating the assistance we are offered and this leads to inefficiency and wastage of precious resources and time. We ask for our partners to coordinate with each other, but this does not always happen, and in some extreme cases, it leads to competition and infighting in Nairobi amongst implementing agencies or donors. Sometimes, various Somali political actors capitalize on this chaotic situation, using it to advance their own agendas. But my point is that the assistance, though generously offered, often does not translate into useful tangible results – for example, the resources related to implementing the Roadmap.
I believe that it is increasingly evident that the Government is making valuable contributions and progress towards security, political outreach and reconciliation, good governance, constitutional making process and reforming of the parliament as well as to our society as a whole.
Let me start with the security. We are still in the process of consolidating security gains in Mogadishu and other parts of the country, such as the Jubba regions, Gedo, and now Hiran. This huge success was the result of an exceptional partnership between a much improved Somali National Army, our AMISOM brothers and now our neighbours Kenya and Ethiopia. We are being successful because our security forces have changed and improved in so many ways. This success presents both opportunities and challenges for the TFG as we strive to consolidate security in the city, provide public services to the population, and tackle the enormous humanitarian emergency enveloping our country. Failure to do this will fatally undermine the legitimacy and popular support that the government currently enjoys.
The lack of effective government over the course of the last 20 years has resulted in a culture of lawlessness and chaos. As Somalia strives to rebuild its armed forces and security institutions with the help of AMISOM and the international community, we are winning the battle against terrorism and extremism.
Stabilizing security inside the capital has been a determined focus of my government over the past 5 months and the Mogadishu Stabilization Plan is progressing very well. But the extremists continue to obstruct the distribution and delivery of critical life-saving assistance to the famine areas of the country.
We have now finalized the National Security Stabilization Plan (NSSP) with input from regional stakeholders, Puntland, Galmudug and ASWJ. The NSSP was debated and approved by the Council of Ministers on 26 October 2011.
With regards to the Constitution, we have appointed a Committee of Somali Experts and the Joint Committee, who are working extremely hard to finalise a draft document. Furthermore, the National Consultative Constitutional Conference took place 21 to 24th December in Garowe, which ended with participants signing the Garowe Principles.
In terms of Political Outreach and Reconciliation we have made significant progress and a milestone has been achieved. 5 months ago, there was no working partnership or coordination between TFG and the Regional Administrations. Now, however, we have excellent working partnerships and better coordination between TFG and the regions, as well as to Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jamaia (ASWJ). Even prior to the Roadmap Meeting, TFG leaders visited Puntland and Galmudug. There have been other consultative meetings which have been successful, such as the high level reconciliation dialogue with new emerging regional administrations which took place in Nairobi on 19 September. Also, as part of the NSSP consultations process, the TFG sent Missions to Puntland and Galmudug in October. Additionally, a Civil Society Consultative meeting took place in Mogadishu between 26 to 28 November.
In terms of Humanitarian situation the TFG appointed a Ministerial Committee as well as the Somali National Disaster Management Agency. As a result of these we have successfully managed the humantirain situation with better coordination and partnership working between Aid Agencies and TFG.
With regards to the Good Governance, again we have made huge progress in this area. TFG continues to take an active stance on combating corruption. In October two district commissioners were arrested and investigated on charges of diverting food aid. We have established a ministerial committee on Anti-Corruption and the cabinet approved an Anti-Corruption Law and the selected Interim Commissioners are in the process of being vetted and will be publicly announced shortly.
There are regular and on-going Town Hall meetings with TFG leaders taking questions from the public. The aim of these meetings is transparency and accountability to the public. Furthermore, all ministers address the public via radio and TV programmes to discuss the progress of their ministries.
I am sure the TFG progress report on the Roadmap will highlight all the achievements made so far. However, we are all here to see both what has been achieved and what we need to improve on in the next few months. My government is committed and determined to making further improvements and progression towards the Roadmap. However, as I often note, the TFG cannot do it alone and we continue to need the help and assistance from the International Community.
Our huge challenges are sustaining security gains while providing basic services to our people. Our National Security Stabilization Plan requires resources in order to fully implement it. Furthermore, we need to immediately start the implementation of DDR which is desperately needed to rehabilitate ex militia and most particularly the generation of our young people who have been exposed to violence.
Finally, I would strongly appeal to you to provide the timely resources needed in order for us to fully implement the Roadmap. I urge the International Community to understand the urgency required to commit the resources in order to bring peace and stability in Somalia and to end the transition as per the Roadmap. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your participation and looking forward to taking part of your lively discussions during the session. I hope that all your contributions and exchange of ideas will further enhance our progress towards bringing peace and stability in Somalia.
Thank you,
--
Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow)
Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Somalia
& Spokesperson of the Government
Tel: +252615479911 or +252699998854
E-mail: ayarisow@opm.gov.so
E-mail: engabdirahman@gmail.com
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