Thank you, Mr President, and I want to thank Special Representative Swan, Special Representative Madeira and Ms Batulo Ahmed for their briefings.
I’d like to make three points in response to what we have heard today. The first thing to say is that the United Kingdom welcomes the electoral agreement reached between the Somali Federal Government and Somalia’s Federal Member States on the 27th of May. Prime Minister Roble has our full support as he works with the Federal Member States to implement the agreement and conclude the electoral process as planned.
It follows that we welcome the beginning of Upper House elections as a milestone on this process agreed on 27 May. But we also endorse what we have heard from SRSG Swan: the importance of Somalia’s leaders engaging to keep this process on track; to ensure that the 30 per cent quota for women is met; and we encourage the Somali authorities, in close coordination with AMISOM, to accelerate preparations for election security. Because we know, as we heard from Special Representative Madeira, delays and deviation from this process risk further political division and benefit Al-Shabaab, who continue to launch frequent attacks to regain ground, extort income and increase their political influence.
Second, Mr President, on security, the electoral process is a key part of sustaining the security gains that the African Union and AMISOM have helped achieve. In support of the transition to a Somali-led security, as laid out in the Somali transition plan and called for in UN resolution 2568, we support and encourage collaboration and consultation between the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations, the African Union and donors. And we look forward to the joint UN-AU proposal on the succession mission to AMISOM, which we expect to see in September, and to working with Somalia, the AU, and Security Council members to translate this into a mandate in December.
Thirdly, Mr President, as we’ve heard, Somalia continues to face deep challenges brought by COVID-19 and climate change, including flooding, drought and locust swarms, which have put Somalis’ lives and livelihoods at further risk. The UK will continue to support Somalia in mitigating the impacts of these events and building resilience. And we call on other members of the international community to do the same.
In conclusion, Mr President, delivering the 27 May agreement and completing the electoral process will present Somalia with an opportunity to address the challenges facing Somali people and regional and international partners to renew their support to Somalia and on its path to development, security and climate resilience.
Thank you, Mr President.
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