Somalia, 2011

Let me take this opportunity

to congratulate Mr. Al-Nasser on his election as

President of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth

session. I would also like to congratulate the Secretary-

General on his appointment to a second term. We

Somalis would like to thank him for his leadership in

putting Somalia at the top of the agenda despite so

many competing priorities. We hope that Somalia will

become peaceful and stable during his tenure.

It is my honour to address the General Assembly

for the first time as Prime Minister of Somalia. I come

here mindful of the enormous challenges at this

important moment in our history and determined to act

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boldly in the cause of peace, justice and stability — not

only in the Horn of Africa but on the African continent

at large and in the world as a whole.

The United Nations was founded on the

conviction that the nations of the world could come

together in a spirit of cooperation to tackle their

common problems for the sake of the whole of

humankind. I wish to speak of the challenges facing

Somalia, whose effects have found ample expression in

the current dire situation in the country, and some of

which threaten every country represented here.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the Prime

Minister of Turkey for his genuine leadership and for

highlighting the plight and suffering of those affected

by the famine in Somalia. The seemingly unending

humanitarian crisis in Somalia has many and varied

causes. Decades of conflict, the demise of the central

State, poor and kleptocratic leadership and struggles

between clans for limited resources, exacerbated by

cycles of devastating droughts, have created chronic

food shortages and an underdeveloped economy, and

driven the population to despair.

In recent years, the global terrorist organization

Al-Qaida has sought to exploit these divisions and

weaknesses to plot and carry out attacks on the rest of

the world. Our people know only too well the

destruction that a few, blinded by an ideology of

extremism and terror, can wreak on a country. It is this

small minority, and primarily the Al-Qaida affiliated

group Al-Shabaab, that is responsible for the famine

currently spreading throughout the country, through

their policies of systematically looting grain stores,

forcibly recruiting and extorting farmers and their

families and preventing access by aid agencies to the

most affected regions in the south.

However, the threat they pose is not limited to

our borders. Foreign fighters have sought to export

their noxious extremism to the rest of the Horn of

Africa, recruiting and sponsoring acts of terror in

neighbouring countries such as Uganda, where last

year they murdered 76 innocent people. The insecurity

they have created in southern Somalia has led to a

large influx of refugees into Kenya and Ethiopia,

straining resources and spreading instability across the

region.

They are also actively planning to strike further

afield. Just this week, one of the leaders of Al-Shabaab

said that the group was committed to continuing its

battle against the Government of Somalia and was

seeking to destroy both the United States and the

United Nations. It is also well-known that Al-Shabaab

has been focusing its recruitment and radicalization

efforts on Somali diasporas in Australia, Europe,

Canada and the United States of America.

Clearly, the battle against Al-Qaida is one in

which we all have a stake, and in which we all

therefore have responsibilities. In Somalia, we have

been doing what we can, within our limited resources,

to fulfil our obligations in this regard. Barely a month

after United States forces killed Osama bin Laden, one

of his most wanted deputies, Fazul Abdullah

Mohammed, was shot dead by Somali security forces

on the outskirts of Mogadishu. Shortly thereafter, with

the aid of African Union forces, the Somali National

Army succeeded in forcing the extremists to withdraw

the bulk of their forces from the capital. As a result, we

can now begin to provide needed humanitarian

assistance to the city’s ever-increasing population of

internally displaced persons, who are fleeing the areas

still held by the extremists where the famine has hit

hardest.

Although the extremists’ retreat from Mogadishu

is a welcome development, it may herald a new and

more dangerous phase of the conflict, as they

increasingly turn to asymmetric tactics such as suicide

bombings and the use of improvised explosive devices

that target the civilian population. As we continue to

build up our own capacities, our security agencies are

alert to this threat and have already successfully

disrupted a number of planned attacks, including

several targeting the hungry at feeding centres.

Terrorism preys on decaying States, exploiting

their poverty and ungoverned spaces to radicalize,

recruit and plan. That is why the extremists have

consistently fought against the Somali peace process

and sought to destroy the institutions it has generated.

Somalia’s leaders are redoubling their efforts to

achieve national reconciliation and entrench

democratic governance. Three weeks ago, with the help

of our international partners, we hosted the first

national consultative conference in Mogadishu, at

which the Transitional Institutions and representatives

of regional administrations came together to adopt a

road map for the re-establishment of permanent,

legitimate and representative Government in the

country.

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The conference, which was the culmination of

Somali-led reconciliation initiatives dating back to the

Arta Declaration of May 2000, represents the best hope

for Somalia to establish a firm political foundation

from which to rebuild. The road map is a significant

achievement for the Somali peace process. Its adoption

marks the first of many steps on the path to the

eventual conclusion of the transition process in a

responsible and productive manner. It has also shed

light on the remaining transitional tasks, including the

drafting and promulgation of a new Constitution. The

Transitional Federal Institutions have committed to

meeting the specific timelines and benchmarks for their

implementation as outlined in the road map, which will

allow the Somali people to monitor our performance in

this regard.

The support of the international community is

also crucial to ensuring its success. Indeed, the

conference itself could not have taken place without

the continued engagement of the international

community. Let me also take this opportunity to

express gratitude, on behalf of my entire nation, to the

African Union, and especially Uganda and Burundi, for

the support they have given and the sacrifices they

have made to date in this worthy cause. The fact that

the conference was safely held in Mogadishu is

testimony to the achievements in security that their

forces have made possible in the city. I must also thank

all the countries represented here for the bilateral and

multilateral support given to both the Transitional

Institutions and the African Union Mission in Somalia

(AMISOM), without which none of what has been

achieved would have been possible.

Going forward, as we embark on the final leg of

the transition process, we will continue to need the

help and support of the United Nations. The road map

has illuminated the path and, although dangers may lie

in the shadows, we will not deviate from it. We ask that

the Organization continue to accompany us on this

journey and to provide the needed resources as we

advance towards full sovereignty.

Despite the remarkable progress we have made so

far, our gains remain fragile and consolidating them

will require resilience and unity from all. It is critical

that the Somali Army and AMISOM be reinforced as

soon as possible, so they can prevent a security

vacuum in the areas of Mogadishu recently vacated by

the fleeing extremists, and ensure that the city is safe

for both residents and aid workers. The immediate

deployment of the extra 3,000 AMISOM troops already

authorized by the Security Council will be a crucial

first step.

In addition, we must also begin to show the

people the fruits of peace and democracy and to

reverse the harmful effects of radicalization. Somalia

needs the help of the outside world to rebuild its

economy and provide jobs for the millions of our

young people who have been deprived of opportunities

by the anarchy of the past two decades. We must show

them that there is a better alternative to the barrel of a

gun.

The effort must begin at home. Let me be the first

to acknowledge that we Somalis have made mistakes in

the past, which eroded the international community’s

trust in our institutions. Somalia can and must do

better. In this time of national crisis, we the Somali

people must set aside our differences and come

together to confront our perils. Reconciliation must

become our mantra as we work to further the peace

process and create an environment conducive to the

delivery of aid. We in the political class must also

accept our responsibility for the errors of the past and

resolve to do better. The Somali people have had

enough of war, hunger, political wrangling and

corruption. They demand, and indeed deserve, a

Government that puts the national interest before

personal ambition — one that fosters unity, not

division.

The Transitional Federal Government is making

efforts to reverse this and to instil a sense of patriotism

and responsibility. We are making good progress in

injecting professionalism and transparency into the

revenue collection and economic management system,

strengthening internal mechanisms governing the

distribution of Government money and creating a more

open and accountable fiscal and monetary system.

The Central Bank of Somalia is up and running.

The economic reforms we have made have resulted in

the doubling of revenue from the Mogadishu seaport

and quadrupled those from the Aden International

Airport. The funds are being reinvested in the

provision of services to the people as our current

capability allows. For example, 15 per cent of the

revenue collected from the seaport has been set aside

for the rehabilitation of the city. As a result, for the

first time in 20 years, Mogadishu is being cleared of

rubble, roads are being repaired and streets lit, and

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markets, hospitals and schools are reopening. A register

containing the names and biometric data of all the

members of the security forces has been compiled, and

our soldiers are receiving their allowances regularly.

As required by the road map, we have also

embarked on the process of identifying nominees for

the Interim Independent Anti-Corruption Commission.

We are also formulating a national fiscal budget for the

coming fiscal year.

As with the gains in the security sector, in order

to entrench and safeguard these reforms and to deliver

on the expectations of the Somali people, we in the

Transitional Federal Government must improve on our

performance and create the necessary conditions for

the growth of the Somali economy. However, the scale

of the challenge is such that we will continue to rely on

the help of our international partners.

It is understandable that, in the prevailing global

economic environment, many in the wealthier countries

will be tempted to look to their own problems, to the

detriment of providing aid and investment to their

poorer cousins in the developing world. I would

caution against this. The visionaries who founded this

body understood that it was impossible to secure

economic benefits for a section of the global

population as long as these remained a distant dream

for the rest, and sought to establish an interlinked

global political and economic infrastructure that

ensured that citizens in every country could participate

in, and partake of the fruits of, global prosperity. I

therefore urge the international community to continue

its generous support for the emerging economic

institutions, as we strive to rebuild destroyed

infrastructure and jump-start economic activity in the

areas our forces are securing.

To the business community I would say that

Somalia is truly Africa’s sleeping giant, and a

relatively small investment there will go a long way.

With the longest coastline on the continent, bountiful

and unexploited natural wealth and an entrepreneurial

tradition that dates back to the Roman times, a peaceful

Somalia will be a force for moderation and an engine

of growth and prosperity for the region and for the

continent.

Furthermore, the integration of Somalia into the

global economy will have a considerable and beneficial

impact on the phenomenon of piracy from our shores,

which imposes huge costs on global trade. As has been

noted by many observers, a lasting solution to this

menace is not to be found in policing the high seas.

The regeneration of a vibrant economy on land,

providing jobs and opportunity for all, is the sole

antidote.

The humanitarian situation in Somalia remains

dire. The United Nations has declared famine in a sixth

region, which means that up to half the population is

now facing the prospect of starvation. Many of our

people continue to come to the capital seeking refuge,

with more than half a million others having already

arrived. To deal with this situation and to oversee the

delivery of humanitarian assistance, a high-level

committee has been created. As per its

recommendations, the Government has established

several camps to house and feed refugees. A disaster

management agency, comprised of members of civil

society, has also been established. We are working with

United Nations agencies such as the Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and

the World Food Programme to synchronize our efforts

to deal with the famine.

On behalf of the entire Somali nation, I wish to

express my gratitude for the pledges of assistance that

we have received from Governments and humanitarian

agencies around the world. The greatest need, however,

continues to be felt within areas still under the

effective control of the extremists, where access by

international humanitarian agencies is severely

restricted. The insurgents are also hampering the

freedom of movement of millions who are trying to

reach help, either in Mogadishu or in neighbouring

countries.

Mr. Mayr-Harting (Austria), Vice-President, took

the Chair.

Without urgent interventions to change the

situation, it is estimated that up to three quarters of a

million people may perish in the next few months.

Although normal to above-normal rainfall is expected

to return in the next three months, that is unlikely to

result in a significant easing of the crisis in the short

term, since the harvest will not be expected until

February. In any case, the production from the short

rainy season only accounts for a third of the total

annual cereal production. The displacement of farmers

by the current famine will only further reduce the

expected yield. In fact, the United Nations has

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indicated that it expects the famine to spread to the rest

of the south by the end of the year.

It is therefore critical that we accelerate efforts to

reach those in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas, while at

the same time ensuring that international humanitarian

workers are afforded a measure of security against

attacks and kidnappings by the insurgents. As I noted

earlier, the international community must urgently

reinforce our efforts to extend the zone of safety for aid

workers beyond Mogadishu and into these areas. In the

meantime, my Government will continue to work

closely with humanitarian agencies to collect and share

information on needs. We stand ready to cooperate

with all actors to ensure that aid gets to the most

critically affected populations, wherever they may be.

As I stated before, the challenges I have outlined

have been aggravated by the increasing cycles of

devastating drought that we experience as a result of

changes in global climate patterns. We in the Horn of

Africa have been affected more than most. As I speak,

the region is experiencing its worst drought in a

generation. The scale of the suffering in my country is

a testament to price we are having to pay.

There needs to be a concerted effort not just to

address the causes of climate change but also to

mitigate its adverse effects, especially in countries such

as Somalia that have contributed little to the problem

but are bearing the brunt of its consequences. In that

regard, let me reiterate the appeal issued during the

recent summit on the Horn of Africa crisis, held in the

Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for developed nations to

facilitate the transfer of technology and build up the

capacity of developing nations to adapt to these

challenges. Somalia will require assistance to improve

water resource management and reduce our reliance on

rain-fed agriculture even as we strive to implement the

targets agreed to at the Nairobi summit of 10 per cent

forest cover and irrigated land by the year 2017.

Moreover, we fully support the right of Palestine

to become a full member of the community of nations.

We believe in the two-State solution for the

Palestinian-Israeli problem, where Palestinians should

be allowed to live in peace and dignity in their own

homeland. We have all seen the changes happening in

the Arab world. The international community must

support the peaceful and democratic aspirations of all

peoples.

We must also support the National Transitional

Council of Libya in order to bring peace and stability

to that country.

In conclusion, today, the future of Somalia hangs

in the balance, and with it the prospects for peace,

stability and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and

security for nations across the world. Resolute global

action in support of our efforts is now required if we

are to consolidate and build on the gains already made

and extend them to the rest of the country for the sake

of future generations.