Somalia
Yesterday (21 June) the UK circulated a draft presidential statement on Somalia to Council members. It appears the draft proposes that the Council should welcome the Kampala Accord of 9 June between the Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the speaker of parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. The Accord effectively legitimised the extension of the transitional period in Somalia for 12 months. The Council statement would also call on the parties to continue working together to ensure implementation of the accord. It expresses strong support for the Secretary-General’s Special Representative Augustine Mahiga.
The first experts’ meeting on the draft is taking place this afternoon. Most Council members seem to agree that the accord is a major step forward and recognise that the Somalis have now done what the Council asked them to do when the visiting Council delegation met with Somali leaders in Nairobi on 25 May.There are some doubts, however, that the agreement will bring an end to the political infighting. Members also caution that a lot of work remains to ensure its implementation.
These concerns seem to have prompted the UK to propose a Council statement on Somalia last Friday when Council members were briefed on the Kampala Accord by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe as part of his monthly political briefing.
Most members seem to agree that it is useful at this stage to send a clear message to the parties about what is still expected of them.
