COMMUNIQUE OF THE 190th MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

Peace and Security Council
190th Meeting
22 May 2009
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

COMMUNIQUE

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 ncreased 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 ommuniqué, 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.