Thank you very much, Mr. President, and let me extend our best wishes for France presiding over the Security Council for this month. Thank you for inviting the EU to brief the Security Council on Somalia. I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the terrible attack on the Hayat Hotel and to pay tribute to the brave security forces that risk their lives daily to protect the people of Somalia. We are here, to discuss a security situation that threatens all of us – in Somalia, the region and beyond. We must stand united to face this threat together. 

Mr. President,

Al-Shabaab has grown to become the richest and strongest global franchise of al-Qaeda, threatening peace and security as well as humanitarian efforts in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. The incursion into Ethiopia at the end of July was the most significant since the organisation’s inception, followed by a deadly complex attack in Mogadishu three weeks later. Renewed threats have been issued against Kenya, where the organization has also had significant presence and is destroying the lives of the Kenyan people in the North East. The organization continues to control large areas in Somalia. Its extortion and taxation go even further, resulting in an alarming operational and financial capacity. The response to fight al-Shabaab has to be substantial. We all owe deep gratitude to the brave Somalis who have engaged in the fight against al-Shabaab. After thirty years of conflict, Somali children and youth know nothing else. 

Mr. President,

I want to pay tribute also to the Troop Contributing Countries of AMISOM, now ATMIS, and especially to their brave men and women, who have served and continue to serve the Somali people. Many have paid the ultimate price. This sacrifice has to be acknowledged. 

We have all invested heavily in bringing security to Somalia. The Troop Contributing Countries under ATMIS have deployed thousands of troops. Key partners, including the EU, have trained Somali troops and police forces. The EU has supported the African Union led missions for fifteen years, investing over 2.5 billion euro. We also have three peace and security missions deployed to Somalia and have supported the Somali National Army and Somali Police with 77 million euro under various instruments. Ensuring security in Somalia has become a ‘must not fail’ for all of us. In all honesty, we have to ask ourselves: if over a decade of significant investment in peacekeeping missions andthe increased capacity of the Somali National Armyhas resulted in a rolling back of security gains against al-Shabaab, what has gone wrong? 

Mr. President,

We are now five months into the ATMIS mandate. Due to the delayed transfer of power and the establishment of the new Cabinet, progress has been limited. Resolution 2628 signals change. The EU is committed in supporting the continued security presence of ATMIS and, to this end, we have committed EUR 140 million for 2022. There is however, no support for ‘more of the same’.  Resolution 2628 places the Somalis in the lead for this transition, security and the fight against al-Shabaab. Somali leadership is essential and I welcome the new Government’s commitment to fight al-Shabaab militarily, financially and ideologically. I urge the Somali government to provide clarity on the Somalia Transition Plan and the National Security Architecture. 

As ATMIS draws down, Somali troops have to take over. This does not necessarily mean generating more troops, but requires a clear overview of the troops available – at the federal level and in the Federal Member States – as well as the force organizations needed to assume responsibilities from ATMIS and a clear vision for the Somali Armed Forces. The only exit strategy for ATMIS is to support the Somali security sector. 

Mr. President,

We have to acknowledge that the root causes of instability in Somalia remain unsolved. The relationships between the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States continue to be fragile. Core issues such as security, power sharingand resource sharing have not yet been addressed. Time has been lost through political infighting. We must now make progress to build institutions, national, regional and local authorities, ensuring service delivery and building the social contract between citizens and state. Security and justice must be ensured for the people of Somalia. I encourage the Somali leadership to come together, deliver on the finalization of the Constitution and institutionalize a dispute resolution mechanism through either a Constitutional Court or the Supreme Court. The international community has provided ample support to this process for over a decade and we cannot continue to act as referee for domestic disputes. It is time to start building institutions and move away from ad hoc decision-making processes. This is why I urge the Somali leadership to finalise what is essentially a Somali process and a national responsibility. Until this has been done, delivery to the Somali people will remain incomplete. 

Mr. President,

Thousands of lives have already been lost and moreremain at risk. The worst drought in four decades is ravaging Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. More than seven million people, over half of the population, are food insecure. Over two hundred thousand people are at immediate risk of starvation. This is not the first drought the Somali people havehad to endure nor will it be the last. Somalia bears some of the worst consequences of climate changeand is hit hard by recurrent droughts and flooding. In May, I had the opportunity to visit Mogadishu and meet the new President, His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. In his words, “Somalia must face the brutal truth in that pastoralism, the lifestyle of more than 90% of the population, might no longer besustainable given the changing climate in the region.” In response to the growing humanitarian crisis, EU recently pledged 633 million euro for the region. This includes 28 million euro from our humanitarian reserves for Somalia, which brings the EU humanitarian aid on drought response to 80 million euro since December last year. Further, we have set up an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge in Somalia, which is delivering emergency supplies to hard-to-reach areas. A total of 50 to 70 flights will take place, and over 100 metric tons of lifesaving medical and nutritional supplies have already been airlifted.

Mr. President,

The European Union remains committed to a holistic approach in Somalia and delivery upon our promises remains a high priority. Formation of a new government presents an opportunity for re-engagement, refocus and alignment of priorities. The authorities need strong encouragement by a more unified international community to move forward on core issues linked to the fight against al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab is a multilayered threat and can only be successfully engaged through a comprehensive approach. The Somalis need to be at the head of thistable. The complexities of fighting one of the most effective terrorist organisations deserve our collective attention. Now is the time to stand together with our Somali partners, Troop Contributing Countries, the African Union, IGAD, the United Nations and all other entities who are contributing to tackling this challenge together. Strong cooperation and warm relationships are crucial to the Horn of Africa at this time. The European Union is committed to peace and stability in Somalia and we look forward to a new chapter of renewed cooperation. 

Thank you, Mr. President.