The UK is working with international partners and leading Security Council efforts to support the work of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Somalia to help political reconciliation in Somalia, and to try to help address the troubling humanitarian crisis there. We are also working to support the further deployment of the African Union peacekeeping Mission and eventual deployment of a UN peacekeeping force if and when the conditions are right.

Background

In January and February 2007 the African Union (AU) Peace & Security Council and then the UN Security Council (UNSCR 1744) authorised an AU force in Somalia (AMISOM). Of 8,000 troops envisaged in the AU force, 2,300 have deployed so far.

On 20 August 2007, the Security Council adopted UNSCR 1772, which renewed the authorisation for AMISOM for six months, asked the Secretary-General to continue contingency planning for a possible UN mission there, and urged all parties to support the National Reconciliation Congress and participate in the political process. Authorisation for AMISOM was renewed for a further six months (UNSCR 1801) on 20 February 2008 and again on 19 August 2008 (UNSCR 1831).

The Security Council fully supports the work of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Somalia and Somali Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hussein to help political reconciliation in Somalia.

To this end, UNSCR 1811 (2008) extends the mandate of the Monitoring Group (referred to in UNSCR 1558, 2004) which investigates violations of the arms embargo against Somalia.

The Security Council continues to emphasise the importance of adequate humanitarian support to Somalia. 750,000 people have been displaced by conflict. Approx. 2.5 million Somalis are dependent on international aid, and there are reports of human rights abuses across the country. As well as suffering a decade of conflict, nearly two million people in the country are vulnerable to drought and disease. One in four children dies before their fifth birthday. Of the children who survive, 80 per cent have never seen the inside of a primary school. And average life expectancy is 47.

On 15 May 2008, the Security Council unanimously adopted the UK-drafted UNSC resolution 1814. This resolution ramps up the UN’s engagement in Somalia, in particular paving the way for a stronger presence of the UN Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS) - including its relocation to Somalia, and authorising the protection of humanitarian ships delivering aid to the country.

Due to an increase in piracy activities off the coast of Somalia, on 2 June 2008 UNSCR 1816 was adopted authorising States, for a period of six months and in co-operation with the Transitional Federal Government, to "use all necessary means" to repress acts of armed robbery and piracy in Somalia's territorial waters and the high seas off its coast and to co-operate in determining jurisdiction, investigating and prosecuting armed robbers and pirates.

On 16 January, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1863. The United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1863 provided enhance support for African Union force in Somalia (AMISOM) through a UN logistics mission, equipment, services and a trust fund; provides enhanced impetus for implementing the Djibouti Agreement and expresses intent to establish a UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia, subject to a second Council decision in June.

Further Background

In January 1992 the UN established a small Cease-fire Observer Force operation in Somalia (UNOSOM I). It failed to make any impact and as civil war escalated, a massive humanitarian crisis developed. In December 1992 a US-led task force (UNITAF) intervened to create a secure environment for relief operations. It succeeded in securing the main relief centres in the starvation area but did not attempt to disarm the Somali clan militias or the warlords. UNITAF handed over to UNOSOM II in May 1993. In response to militia attacks, the Security Council authorised UNOSOM to take all necessary measures against those responsible. In the confrontation that ensued, thousands of Somalis and 70 UN peacekeepers died. 18 US Rangers were also killed, which prompted the departure of US troops in March 1994. The last UNOSOM troops withdrew in March 1995.