Council welcomed the outcome of the London Conference on Somalia. Council noted with satisfaction that the steps agreed to at the Conference would go a long way in furthering peace and reconciliation in Somalia, as well as greater stability and security for the region and beyond. Council expressed the AU’s appreciation to the UK Government, particularly Prime Minister David Cameron, for having taken this initiative in support to the AU’s efforts in Somalia.

Council stressed the need to maintain the current international momentum in support of the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia. In this respect, Council looks forward to the upcoming Istanbul Conference on Somalia. 

Council called on the Somali political leadership to honour fully the commitments made to complete the transition on time and put in place a more representative and inclusive political dispensation. 

Furthermore,  Council welcomed  the  adoption  by  the  Security  Council,  on  22  February 2012, of resolution 2036(2012), which significantly enhances the UN support package to the AU Mission  in Somalia  (AMISOM), in particular by supporting the decision made by the Peace and Security Council, at its 306thmeeting held on 5 January 2012 PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCV), to increase AMISOM’s  force  strength  from 12,000  to 17,731 uniformed personnel; expanding  accordingly the  UN  support  package  for  the Mission;  and  authorizing  the  inclusion,  into  the  support package,  of  the  reimbursement  of  contingent  owned  equipment  and  the provision  of  vitally-needed  force enablers and multipliers. Council expressed  its deep appreciation to  the Security Council  members  and to the  UN  Secretary-General  for  their  support  and  commitment  to promoting lasting peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

 

Council noted that the adoption of resolution 2036(2012) was an  important step  in the efforts by the AU and the UN to build an innovative and forward looking partnership to address the daunting  challenges  of  peace  and  security  in  Africa.  In this respect, Council recalled its communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.  (CCCVII)  of  9  January  2012  on  the  partnership between  the AU and  the UN  in  the area of peace and  security,  as well as paragraph 16 of decision Assembly/ AU/Dec.408 (XVIII) on the report of the Peace and Security Council on its Activities and the State of Peace  and  Security  in Africa,  adopted  by  the  18th  ordinary  session  of  the Assembly  of  the Union, held on 29 and 30 January 2012.

 

Council  reiterated  its  appreciation  to  AMISOM  and  to  the  Ethiopian  forces  for  the continued gains being made on  the ground  in support of  the Somali  security  forces,  including the  recent  advances  in  the Mogadishu  area  and  the  liberation  of  the  city  of Baidoa.  Council looks forward to the outcome of the meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Staff of AMISOM TCCs and other interested countries, to be held on 9 March 2012, in Addis Ababa, in order to formally establish the Military Operations Coordination Committee (MOCC), as foreseen by the AMISOM Strategic Concept, and discuss its Terms of Reference, as well as other related issues.

 

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