President, 

I thank Acting Special Representative James Swan and Special Representative Mohammed El-Amine Souef for their briefings, and welcome the Permanent Representative of Somalia to this meeting. 

China first of all congratulates Somalia on its election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2025-26. As Somalia’s political and security situation enters a critical stage, the international community should provide more targeted support to help Somalia achieve lasting peace and development. I would like to emphasize the following three points. 

First is to steadily advance the political process. China welcomes the National Consultative Council meeting held by the Federal Government of Somalia with the federal member state government in May this year to discuss such major issues as constitutional review and the electoral system. China hopes that all parties in Somalia will put the interests of the country and its people first and resolve differences through dialogue and consultation. The international community should adhere to the Somali-led and Somali-owned principle and avoid external pressure and interference or imposing any governance model. 

Over the years, UNSOM has made great efforts to support Somalia in advancing political transition and security sector reform. China supports UNSOM in formulating as soon as possible a scientific and reasonable transition timetable that corresponds to the development of the situation and in accordance with the requirements of the Somali government, so as to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from UNSOM to the UN country team. 

Second is to ensure a smooth security transition. Recently, the terrorist group Al-Shabaab launched attacks in the capital Mogadishu and other places, causing a large number of civilian casualties, indicating that the security situation in Somalia is still facing challenges. The international community should continue to support Somalia in building up its security forces, carrying out counter-terrorism operations, and gradually taking over security responsibilities independently. 

The AU has long made important contributions to peace and stability in Somalia. Last week, the AU Peace and Security Council issued a communique on the future arrangement of ATMIS. China supports the Security Council in making appropriate adjustments to the drawdown plan of ATMIS in accordance with the relevant decisions of the AU and in proactively exploring how to continue to provide support to Somalia in the future, so as to avoid a security vacuum. Currently, ATMIS and the follow-on arrangements are facing a shortage of funding. In his report, the Secretary-General calls on donors to increase their contributions. China hopes that the traditional developed country donors will respond to the Secretary-General's appeal and actively close the funding gap. 

Third is to maintain overall regional stability. Somali is an important country in the Horn of Africa. Peace and stability in Somali and good neighborly relations among regional countries serve the interests of all countries in the region. We have consistently advocated upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and supported the efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia to safeguard national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. 

President, 

In 2022, China put forward the initiative of peaceful development in the Horn of Africa in support of regional countries in achieving long-term peace, stability, development, and prosperity in an independent and autonomous manner and joining hands in addressing the triple challenges of security, development, and governance. Today, China held the senior officials meeting of the second Horn of Africa peace conference in Beijing. China is ready to work with the countries of the Horn of Africa to jointly make the Horn of Africa an area of peace and cooperation with development and prosperity. 

Thank you, President.