http://www.whatsinblue.org/2014/10/adoption-of-resolution-on-somalia-eritrea-sanctions-and-au-mission-in-somalia.php#
Resolution on Somalia-Eritrea Sanctions and AU Mission in Somalia
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http://www.whatsinblue.org/2014/10/adoption-of-resolution-on-somalia-eritrea-sanctions-and-au-mission-in-somalia.php#>
Tomorrow (24 October), the Council is set to vote on a resolution on
Somalia-Eritrea sanctions and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). A
draft text was first circulated last Friday, followed by three
expert-level meetings this week. At press time the draft resolution was
expected to be put into blue this evening.
In relation to sanctions, the draft resolution authorises for 12 months
the interdiction of vessels believed to be carrying charcoal from
Somalia in violation of the charcoal export ban or transporting weapons
in violation of the arms embargo, and decides to review these measures
within six months. It also renews the partial lifting of the arms
embargo for the security forces of the Federal Government of Somalia
(FGS) until 30 October 2015, and requests the FGS to report to the
Council twice, by 30 March 2015 and then by 30 September 2015. In
addition it renews the mandate of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring
Group (SEMG) until 30 November 2015 and requests submission of final
reports on Somalia and Eritrea sanctions by 30 September 2015. It also
renews the humanitarian exemption until 30 October 2015 and requests the
Emergency Relief Coordinator to report to the Council by 1 October 2015.
With regard to AMISOM, the draft resolution renews the mission's
authorisation until 30 November 2015, and requests the Secretary-General
to incorporate humanitarian access issues related to AMISOM operations
into regular reporting on the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia.
The innovative provisions regarding the interdiction at sea of illicit
charcoal exports and illicit arms imports were the most difficult for
Council members to negotiate, perhaps due to their technical nature and
the relative lack of precedents to draw upon. The impetus for their
inclusion came from a letter dated 8 October, in which Somali President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud specifically asked the Council to authorise
maritime forces to prevent charcoal exports and arms imports by
Al-Shabaab. In order to allay the concerns of some Council members,
there are numerous safeguards built into the text including: a
notification procedure involving the FGS and the Secretary-General
regarding which naval forces are authorised to carry out interdiction, a
"reasonable grounds" threshold for naval forces to take action,
provisions regarding compliance with international human rights and
humanitarian law, reporting requirements to the 751/1907 committee for
any member state that undertakes inspection at sea as well as within 30
days after the destruction or disposal of arms or charcoal, and a
Council review within six months.
While the partial lifting of the arms embargo in Somalia had been
controversial in previous negotiations, particularly when first
authorised in March 2013 with resolution 2093, it has become
increasingly less contentious over time. It appears that there was
little dissent over this issue during the negotiations. However, in its
final report on Somalia, the SEMG found that while the reporting of the
FGS has improved, given "anomalies, inaccuracies or lack of
notification",the FSG has not been in full compliance with its
obligations when importing weapons (S/2014/726). The SEMG also
determined that the import of arms and ammunition to date (13,000
weapons and 5.5 million rounds of ammunition) exceed the requirements of
the security forces, and there continue to be problems with the
diversion of arms and ammunition to markets in Mogadishu. The SEMG
accordingly recommended an annual quantitative limit on future FGS arms
imports, which was not incorporated in the current resolution. As
outlined in its presidential statement of 22 May 2014 (S/PRST/2014/9),
the Council's approach has been to focus on capacity building for the
FGS to better regulate arms and ammunition. The draft resolution
reiterates the Council's request to the FGS to establish a joint
verification team with international partners to conduct routine
investigations and therefore mitigate the diversion of arms and ammunition.
The Council has praised the success of the joint AMISOM and Somali
National Army (SNA) military offensive, while at the same time
expressing concern over human rights and humanitarian issues.
Significantly, the draft text requests AMISOM and the SNA to give top
priority to securing supply routes for humanitarian actors (at the
initiative of Chile, the Council was briefed in consultations yesterday
on the deteriorating humanitarian situation is Somalia by
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos).
Overall, the language on human rights has been strengthened and includes
new elements. In this regard, it welcomes the AU's investigation and
investigations by troop-contributing countries into reports of sexual
exploitation and abuse, underlining the importance of accountability and
transparency, while requesting that the outcome of the investigations be
made public. The draft text further includes language on the need for
civilian casualty tracking, the importance of pre-deployment training
and human rights accountability mechanisms, strengthening institutional
structures to prevent sexual and gender based violence, and condemns
human rights violations against children.
The draft resolution also addresses economic factors, particularly the
need for accountability in public financial management and the petroleum
sector. The draft text expresses concern that corruption may be
undermining security and statebuilding, it urges greater transparency
regarding assets recovered abroad and port revenues, urges the FGS to
tighten financial governance procedures and welcomes the establishment
of the Financial Governance Committee (which includes membership by the
World Bank, African Development Bank and an observer from the
International Monetary Fund). More systematic transparency is also
encouraged on the part of international donors. Regarding the oil
sector, a preambular paragraph stresses the need to resolve issues of
resource management and ownership within the context of broader
discussions regarding federalism. A recommendation by the SEMG to impose
a moratorium on oil licensing was not incorporated. At least one member
of the Council, Russia, voiced strong objections on the basis of
national sovereignty.
Regarding Eritrea, the draft resolution welcomes meetings held in Paris
and Cairo and via teleconference between the SEMG and the government of
Eritrea, while underlining the Council's expectation that the depth of
cooperation will increase during the next SEMG mandate, including
through regular visits to Eritrea by the SEMG. During the most recent
reporting cycle, the SEMG was once again denied access to conduct
investigations within Eritrea (S/2014/727). During negotiations, there
was some disagreement among Council members regarding the wording of a
reference to linkages between Eritrea and Somalia within the context of
an Article 39 determination of a threat to international peace and
security. Two permanent members objected to language regarding Eritrea's
"role" in Somalia because the SEMG had not documented a direct link
between Eritrea and Al-Shabaab, It appears a compromise was reached with
a reference to Eritrea's "influence" in Somalia.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: (Whatsinblue.org)Resolution on Somalia-Eritrea Sanctions and
AU Mission in Somalia
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 06:35:41 -0700
From: Semere Asmelash
Reply-To: Semere Asmelash
To: dehai_at_dehai.org <dehai_at_dehai.org>
posted on THU 23 OCT 2014 6:34 PM
Resolution on Somalia-Eritrea Sanctions and AU Mission in Somalia
*Council is set to vote on a resolution on Somalia-Eritrea sanctions and
the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
http://www.whatsinblue.org/2014/10/adoption-of-resolution-on-somalia-eritrea-sanctions-and-au-mission-in-somalia.php#
Received on Fri Oct 24 2014 - 10:46:26 EDT