Security Council expresses support for Somalia’s Transitional Government ahead of talks

Expressing support for war-torn Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and Parliament as the country’s “internationally recognized authorities”, the United Nations Security Council today emphasized the importance to all sides of dialogue ahead of Saturday’s round of peace talks with the Islamic Courts.

The Council also said it was ready to consider an exemption to the 1992 arms embargo imposed on Somalia to pave the way for deployment of a peace support mission and help re-establish the country’s national security forces, although it also emphasized the importance of the embargo and called upon all to comply with it.

“The Security Council supports the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) as the internationally recognized authorities to restore peace, stability and governance to Somalia,” the 15-member body said in a statement read out by its President for July, Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sablière of France.

“The Security Council welcomes the agreement reached in Khartoum on 22 June between the TFG and the Islamic Courts…[it] therefore urges all parties involved in this dialogue to engage constructively at the next round of talks scheduled for 15 July, where it looks forward to further progress in pursuit of a lasting political process.”

The Council condemned the recent fighting in the capital Mogadishu and called on all parties to adhere to June’s ceasefire agreement, and said that it would also consider a request for a peace support mission if it judged this would contribute to stability.

Turning to the arms embargo, the Council said it was willing to consider modifying this if it would help the country’s Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) reform the security sector “in order to help deliver peace for all Somalis.”

“The Security Council expresses its readiness to consider a limited modification of the arms embargo to enable the TFIs, on the basis of a sustainable peace process, to develop Somalia’s security sector and national institutions capable of responding to security issues,” the statement said, while also emphasizing the embargo’s “continued contribution.”

Turning to the “deteriorating humanitarian situation”, the Council added its weight to growing calls for more access and guaranteed protection for humanitarian workers in a country that has been torn by factional fighting ever since the collapse of President Muhammad Siad Barre's regime 15 years ago.

On Tuesday, the top UN envoy to the country said that although “hardliners” within the Islamic groups that now control the Somali capital are causing serious concern, talks between these groups and the TFIs hold out the possibility the situation can be normalized.