SRSG welcomes first Mogadishu meeting of Joint Security Committee

For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE 022/2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Nairobi, 27 July 2009 – The UN Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, has welcomed the first meeting of the Joint Security Committee held in Mogadishu as an important step towards reforming and improving security in Somalia.

The meeting, held on 25 July was attended by the Interior, Defence and National Security Ministers among others, representatives from AMISOM, Italy, the European Union (Swedish Presidency), the European Commission, the office of the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and UNPOS.

The Joint Security Committee (JSC) was established by the Djibouti Agreement to discuss security issues and has been adapted in its composition and terms of reference to address the current situation. It now consists of key Government figures, AMISOM, the UN Political Office for Somalia and other members of the international community, including the League of Arab States.

The Committee aims at harmonizing work by the Government and the international community to support stability and Somalia’s security institutions such as the national Army and Police. This includes issues such as disbursing the financial aid pledged during the Brussels Conference in April and coordinating training.

“This Committee provides a key forum for the Somali Government and international community to work together on supporting the security sector at this crucial time,” said Mr Ould-Abdallah.

The Committee will meet on a regular basis and will eventually cover other areas of security sector reform and the establishment of the rule of law.