Today's Edition
NEW YORK (ALETIHAD)
Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York, delivered the UAE’s explanation of the vote, as well as the UAE statement at the UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Somalia.
Nusseibeh started her address by highlighting Somalia’s resilience and the potential of regional and international partnerships, expressing the UAE’s support to the people of Somalia, the Federal Government of Somalia, and to both the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
“Thanks to their collective efforts, and despite the challenges the country still faces, Somalia continues its inspiring upward trajectory,” she said, referring to the mentioned organisations and their effect on Somalia.
“As we meet today, the country’s stabilisation continues apace and efforts to address terrorism have been effective, presenting an opportunity to consolidate lasting peace in Somalia. It is a tribute to the vision of Somalia’s leadership and the strength of its people,” Nusseibeh said, adding that there is still a lot of work to do to sustain the current momentum “as Somalia seeks to rid itself of Al-Shabaab and jumpstart its recovery”.
Her Excellency continued her remarks by noting that the fight against terrorism “must be sustained”, following the lead of the federal Somali government.
“President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Somali National Army have shown great determination to dislodge Al-Shabaab from its strongholds across the country, but we are all too aware that its terrorist activities continue to pose a grave threat to Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa,” Nusseibeh said, mentioning last Monday’s incident when Al-Shabaab killed a journalist during a suicide attack in Mogadishu.
She reminded that, in recent months, Al-Shabaab has ramped up violence as a result of the offensive efforts enforced by the Somali government.
“The next steps in countering Al-Shabaab are clear: there is a need for a coordinated strategy that sustains the ongoing military offensive to protect Somalis whilst also helping the government of Somalia stabilise its territorial gains,” Her Excellency noted.
She praised the serious attitude Somalia has taken in addressing international concerns and taking the fight against Al-Shabaab seriously, highlighting the development of accountability mechanisms to trace weapons systems, calling them a “very encouraging sign”.
Nusseibeh continued: “It is now up to the international community and this Council to fulfil its end of the bargain. Sanctions are only effective if they also adapt to the shifting dynamics on the ground, and the UAE believes that the current situation necessitates the lifting of the arms embargo on the Federal Government of Somalia.”
She noted the UAE’s support Somalia’s call for a three-month pause of ATMIS’ withdrawal, saying that this move would allow them the needed time to strategise and prevent a security vacuum that Al-Shabaab could exploit.
“We must also remain vigilant to the regional ramifications of Al-Shabaab, including its ties with other terrorist networks, and continue supporting the government of Somalia’s cooperation with its neighbours to address this threat,” Her Excellency urged.
Nusseibeh continued her address by raising awareness about the need to strengthen Somalia’s climate change resilience.
“Somalia confronts regular disasters fueled by climate change. They range from recurrent droughts, which affect food security and exacerbate poverty, to recent floods that displaced nearly a quarter of a million people. These events aggravate the already dire humanitarian situation and can become a driver of conflict, and this is why the UAE has been a partner to the Somali government to help alleviate these humanitarian needs on the ground,” Her Excellency mentioned, adding that, between 2018 and 2023, the UAE has provided $197 million in assistance to Somalia.
“The UAE, both in its individual capacity and as a member of the Quintet for Somalia, remains committed to long-term security and stabilisation. The government’s stabilisation and reconciliation programme outlines areas that urgently need significant attention and investment, key among them being Somalia’s economic recovery and development,” Her Excellency said, addressing the need to think about the long-term sustainable development of the country.
She expressed the UAE’s belief that the economic development of Somalia is a “powerful peacebuilding tool that consolidates security gains”, calling attention to the next gathering of the Quintet, hosted by the UAE, which will discuss means of supporting the people of Somalia.
“The people of Somalia have the resolve and the ingenuity to own the solutions to the challenges they face and to pave the way towards a society that reflects those aspirations, and the UAE will continue to offer its unwavering support,” Nusseibeh said, concluding the statement.
