LONDON CONFERENCE ON SOMALIA: COMMUNIQUE_1
Introduction
1. The London Conference on Somalia took place at Lancaster House on
23rdFebruary 2012, attended
by fifty-five delegations from Somalia and the international community.
2. We met at a key moment in
Somalia’s history. Somalia is emerging from the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. African and Somali troops have pushed Al
Shabaab out of Mogadishu and other
areas. The transitional institutions come to an end in August 2012, and the people of Somalia want clarity on
what will follow. The situation
remains precarious, and in urgent need
of support from the international community.
3. Decisions on
Somalia’s future rest with the Somali people. The Somali political
leadership must be accountable to the people.
The international community’s role is tofacilitate Somalia’s progress and development: our strength is in unity
and coordinated support to Somalia. We noted the importance of listening to and
working with Somalis inside and outside
Somalia, and welcomed their engagement in the run-up to this Conference.
4. The Conference focussed on the underlying
causes of instability, as well as the symptoms
(famine, piracy, and terrorism). We, the international community, agreed:
to inject new momentum into the
political process; to strengthen AMISOM and help Somalia develop its own security forces; to help build stability
at local level; and to step up action to tacklepirates and terrorists.
Political
5. We agreed that the Transitional Federal
Institutions’ mandate ends in August 2012. There
must be no further extensions. We welcomed the
agreements that chart the way towards more representative government: the
Transitional Federal Charter, the DjiboutiAgreement, the Kampala Accord, and the Roadmap. We endorsed the
priority, expressed in the Garowe
Principles, of convening a Constituent Assembly, and emphasised that the Assembly must be representative of the views
of the Somali people of all regions and constituencies,
and that women must be part of the political process. In line with Garowe II, we agreed to incentivise progress and act against spoilers to the peace process, and that we would consider proposals in this
regard before the Istanbul Conference inJune.
6. The Conference recognised the need for the international
community to support any dialogue that
Somaliland and the TFG or its replacementmay agree to establish in order to
clarify their future relations.
7. We condemned terrorism and violent extremism,
whether perpetrated by Somalis or
foreigners. We called on all those willing to reject violence to join the Djibouti peace process. We agreed to develop a defectors’ programme to support those who leave armed groups.
8. We emphasised the urgency of Somaliafunding its own public services, and
using its
assets for the benefit of the people, as well as tackling corruption. We welcomed the progress that has been made in establishing a Joint Financial Management Board to increase transparency and accountability in the collection and efficient use of public revenues, as well as international development aid, and which will help strengthen Somali
1
Final with AMISOM square brackets. Embargoed until 1615 on 23 February
public financial management institutions. A declaration by the initial members of the
JFMB is at Annex A.
9. Respect for human rights must be at the heart of the peace process. We called
for action
to address in particular the grave human rights
violations and abuses that women and children
face. We emphasised that journalists
must be able to operate freely and withoutfear. Civilians must be
protected. We called on the Somali authorities to take measures to uphold human rights and end the culture of
impunity. We agreed to step up
international efforts including through
the UN human rights architecture.
Security and Justice
10.We agreed that security and
justice were essential both to a successful political process and to development. Better security could only be achieved
sustainably in parallel with better
justice and the rule of law.
11.We expressed gratitude to
those countries whose troops had served as peacekeepers and
paid tribute to the achievements and sacrifices
of AMISOM and other forces. We welcomed joint planning by the UN and African
Union and reiterated the importance of effective
command and control. [We welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution **** which expands AMISOM’s mandate
and raises the troop ceiling.] We encouraged AMISOM to ensure the protection of
civilians. We encouraged partners, especially new donors, to contribute to
funding for AMISOM, including through the EU.
12.We agreed that, over time, Somalis should take over responsibility
for providing their own security and develop their own justice systems to deal with the
threats to their security and improve
access to justice. We noted that Somalis
themselves must decide what security and
justice arrangements they need.
13.We acknowledged the good
work underway in supporting the Somali security and justice
sectors. We agreed that we would build an international framework of partners in order tobring much needed coordination and focus to those efforts, underpinned by a set of principles at annex B and working closely with the UN’s Joint Security Committee.
Piracy
14.We reiterated our
determination to eradicate piracy,
noting that the problem requires a
comprehensive approach on land as well as at sea. We expressed our concern that hostages in Somalia are being held longer and with more use of violence. We welcomedthe work of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. We also welcomed the success of international military efforts, and remain committed to such efforts with robust rules of engagement and sufficient force generation. We agreed that piracy cannot be solved by military means alone, and reiterated the importance of supporting communities to tackle the underlying causes of piracy, and improving the effective use of Somali coastal waters through regional maritime capacity-building measures.We welcomed those initiatives underway and agreed to coordinate and support such initiatives better.We called for full implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct and the adoption of an Exclusive Economic Zone. We look forward to reviewing progress including at the Piracy Conference in the UAE in June.
15.We welcomed the efforts of partners in industry against piracy,
and called for greater
take-up of Best Management Practice on
ships. We welcomed current work on international guidance on the use of private
armed security companies.
16. There will be no impunityfor piracy. We called for greater development of judicial capacity to prosecute and detain those behind piracy both in Somalia and in the wider region and recognised the need to strengthen capacity in regional states. We welcomednew arrangements, which enable some states and naval operations to transfer suspected pirates captured at sea for trial by partners across the Indian Ocean region, and if convicted, to transfer them to prisons in Puntland and Somaliland which meet international standards.We noted the intention to consider further the possibility of creating courts in Somalia specialised in dealing with piracy.
17.We reiterated our
determination to prosecute the kingpinsof piracy. Recognising work
already undertaken, we agreed to enhance coordination on illegal financial flows and tocoordinate intelligence gathering and investigations. We noted the establishment of a Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecutions Intelligence Coordination Centre in the Seychelles.
Terrorism
18.Terrorism poses a serious
threat to security in Somalia itself, to the region, and
internationally.It has inflicted great suffering on the Somali population. We agreed to work together with greater determination, and with full respect for the rule of law, human rights,and international humanitarian law, to build capacity to disrupt terrorism in the region, and to address the root causes of terrorism. We agreed on the importance of disrupting terrorists’ travel to and from Somalia, and on the importance of disrupting terrorist finances, and called on countries in the region to implement the Financial Action Task Force’s recommendations on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. We noted that effective intelligence gathering and investigation, and support to the Somalicriminal justice system, were critical to the fight against terrorism. We agreed to work with the Global Counter Terrorism Forum and other international and regional bodies to deliver this important work.
Stability and Recovery
19. We welcomed the success in
some areas of Somalia in establishing local
areas of
stability, and agreed to increase support to build legitimate and peaceful authorities, and improve services to people living in these areas. We agreed that such efforts should promote local and regional cohesion, and converge with the national political process.
20.We considered the
implementation of the MogadishuRecovery and Stabilisation Plan
important. We agreed to expand programmes to newly-recovered areas. We would focus support on enabling the delivery of immediate and sustainable benefits to ordinarySomali people: safety and security, economic opportunities and basic services. We would promote effective and accountable local administrations, and support the resolution ofdisputes.
21.We agreed that all support
to local areas of stability should be in accordance with the New
Deal for engagement in fragile states recently adopted in Busan, and build on the stabilisation strategies prepared by both IGAD and the Transitional Federal Government. We endorsed a set of principles to guide international support to local areas of stability in Somalia (Annex C). We agreed to continue funding local stability through existing programmes, and noted the establishment of a new Stability Fund to which a number of us will contribute_.2
2
Denmark, Norway, United Arab Emirates, United
Kingdom, [Netherlands, to be confirmed]
22.We agreed that Somalia’s
long-term reconstruction and economic
development
depended on a vibrant private sector, and that both aid and diaspora finance could developSomalia’s considerable potential in livestock, fisheries and other sectors. We noted that stability was a prerequisite formost sustainable investments in infrastructure such as electricity, roads and water systems. We looked forward to further discussion on all theseissues at the Istanbul Conference.
Humanitarian
23.The Conference was preceded
by a separate meeting on humanitarian issues
co-chaired
by the United Nations and the United Arab
Emirates. Notwithstanding the end of
the famine, participants expressed
concern at the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and committed to providing humanitarian aid based solely on
need. They agreed a set of conclusions
on humanitarian issues and linking
relief with longer-term recovery (set out in a separate document).
International coordination
24.We agreed to carry forward work agreed at London through the International Contact Group on Somalia (ICG), and welcomed the ICG’s decision in Djibouti to look at restructuring to become more effective. We recommended that the ICG establish working groups on the political process, security and justice, and stability and development. Wenoted that, within the ICG, a core group of engaged countries would drive progress in support of UN, AU and IGAD efforts.
25.We welcomed the efforts of
the Special Representative of the Secretary General and the
United Nations Political Office for Somalia
(UNPOS) in facilitating progress in Somalia. Wealso welcomed the role of IGAD and the African Union, and the support of
the League of Arab States, the European
Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. We encouraged
effective coordination between UN entities working on Somalia. While recognising
the still challenging security situation in Somalia, we welcomed UNPOS’ re-location to Mogadishu and agreed
that we would aim to spend more time on the ground in Somalia in order to work more closely with
Somalis on the challenging tasks ahead.
Conclusion
26.We expressed the hope that
a new era of Somali politics, supported by the international
community, will bring peace to Somalia. We are determined to place the interests of theSomali people at the heart of all our actions. We looked forward to the day when the situation in Somalia would have made sufficient progress for an international conference to be held there. In the meantime, we will redouble our efforts to support the people of Somalia in their search for a better future for their country.
London
23 February 2012
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Somalia: Confidential Communique of London Coference 23
paid tribute to the achievements and sacrifices of AMISOM and other forces. We welcomed joint planning by the UN and African Union and reiterated the importance of effective command and control. [We welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Res