DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR TAREK LADEB
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TUNISIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
12 AUGUST 2021
Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Kenya, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Tunisia, the A3+1.
We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Mr. James Swan, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Mr. Francisco Madeira, and the Chairperson of the Advocacy Committee for the 30 % quota for women in 2021 elections, Ms. Batulo Sheikh Ahamed Gabale for their briefings.
Mr. President,
The A3+1 welcomes the commencement of the election process following the agreement reached between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States on remaining organizational issues.
We underline again the vital importance of holding free, fair, inclusive and timely elections to realize the legitimate aspirations of the People of Somalia to security stability, democracy, good governance and development.
The A3+1 welcomes continued efforts to realize the agreed 30 per cent quota for women including the reduction of nomination fees for women candidates and the appointment of Good will ambassadors.
We also reiterate our support to the objective of holding one-person one-vote universal elections in 2024-2025 and encourage the continuation of efforts to that end.
Mr. President,
The A3+1 remains concerned by the security situation in Somalia with Al Shabaab and other terrorist groups still representing the major threat to peace, security and stability in the country.
We reiterate our call for the continued international support to the government of Somalia in its fight against Al Shabaab and for capacity building in order to enable it to take full security responsibility in line with the Somalia Transition Plan.
The A3+1 takes note of the options proposed by the AU Independent Assessment on engagement in Somalia post 2021 and of the preference expressed for an AU-UN joint mission.
While renewing our tribute to the dedication, courage and sacrifice of AMISOM in the promotion of peace and security and stability in Somalia, we invite the UN, AU and all international partners to continue working closely with the government of Somalia to agree on the best way forward.
Mr President,
The A3+1 deplores the civilian casualties recorded in the latest report of the Secretary General, a large majority of which being attributed to Al-Shabaab.
We are deeply concerned by the continued report of arbitrary detentions, including of journalists, sexual and gender-based violence and abuses against children; we encourage the Somali authorities to take the necessary steps to prevent these violations and further promote and protect human rights, in particular women and children rights, freedom of speech and access to information.
The humanitarian situation in Somalia also remains deeply concerning and we reiterate our call on all international partners to scale up funding for the humanitarian response plans for Somalia.
Mr President,
The A3+1 appreciates the efforts of UNSOM in discharging its mandate of supporting Somalia, AMISOM and other relevant stakeholders through the provision of policy advice on peacebuilding and state-building, and the coordination of international donor support. It is important that these efforts are buttressed by strong relations between the FGS, the UN and the AU. Therefore, the A-3+1 reaffirms its readiness to engage constructively in the forthcoming negotiations for the renewal of UNSOM’s mandate, in order to enhance its role in Somalia post-2021 elections.
To conclude, we would like again to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, unity, political independence, and territorial integrity of Somalia as well as our support to all efforts to secure its peace, political stability and socio-economic progress.
I Thank You
