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Remarks by Ambassador Dai Bing at Security Council Briefing on Somalia

2022-02-15 17:48

Madam President, 

I thank SRSG Swan, Special Representative Madeira and head of EU delegation to the UN Ambassador Skoog for their briefings, and welcome the presence of Ambassador Osman, PR of Somalia, at this meeting. 

Recently, the Somali parties have been moving forward with the electoral process against all odds. The National Consultative Council at its early January meeting decided to improve the electoral process and expedite its progress. Through this meeting, the Somali stakeholders settled their differences through dialogue and consultation, marking an important step towards implementing the September 17, 2020 and May 27, 2021 agreements. We encourage the intra-Somalia parties to continue to put the greater good offices, exercise constraint, overcome their differences, and move forward with elections as agreed, so as to create enabling conditions for national reconstruction. After 30 years of conflicts, Somalia is facing a multitude of severe challenges. The international community should respect the Somali-led and Somali-owned approach, show necessary patience, and provide constructive assistance to the Somali elections and state-building, instead of exerting excessive pressure at every turn. 

The security situation in Somalia remains volatile. So far this year, dozens of people have been killed in Al-Shabab’s violent terrorist attacks. AMISOM has long been making great sacrifices to secure and stabilize Somalia. China would like to pay tribute to all the peacekeepers. Somalia and the AU have reached an agreement on the reconfiguration of AMISOM. We look forward to engagement between the UN Secretariat and the Somali Government, the AU, the major donors and other parties so as to present a realistic and actionable report on the size and composition of the reconfigured AMISOM and logistical support for the Mission in support of the implementation of the transition plan. The Council can refer to such a report when contemplating future decisions. China calls on the major contributors to keep up sustainable and predictable funding for AMISOM to avoid funding gaps that may affect its counter-terrorism operations. The future of Somalia must be owned by Somalia. As Somalia's security transition moves into a new phase, it is incumbent upon the international community to scale up its support for Somalia, and help it develop the capacity needed to keep the country secure as soon as possible. At the same time, we should firmly support Somalia in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and combat separatists acts. 

Somalia is currently confronted with a dire humanitarian crisis. The worst drought in 30 years has caused crop failure, killed livestock, and sent prices soaring, with 70% of the population living below the poverty line, and nearly half of the population in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. OCHA recently announced a $1.5 billion humanitarian response plan for 2022. China calls on the international community to increase funding and provide emergency humanitarian supplies to the Somali people, including food, water, COVID-19 vaccines and so on. At the same time, we should give greater recognition to the role of development in improving the humanitarian and security situation, and help Somalia overcome its governance-related challenges, improve its capacity for self-reliant development, created jobs and growth and eliminate the root causes of conflict. 

Madam President, 

Somalia is an important country in the Horn of Africa. Its peace and stability is pivotal to the regional dynamics. To help countries in the region, including Somalia, meet the triple challenges of security, development and governance, China has put forward an initiative of peaceful development in the Horn of Africa. China will continue to firmly support regional countries in exploring development paths that cater to their national realities, support the proper handling of ethnic, religious and border disputes in the African way, and support the efforts to build a united, stable and harmonious environment for development in the Horn of Africa. China is confident that Somalia and other countries in the region will be able to take the destiny of the countries and the region into their own hands through their own hard work, and that enduring peace, order and stability shall prevail in the Horn of Africa. 

Thank you, Madam President.

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