MEETING OF THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE TROOP CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES OF THE AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA (AMISOM), ETHIOPIA AND SOMALIA: KAMPALA, UGANDA; 4TH AUGUST 2013
COMMUNIQUÉ
A meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Ethiopia and Somalia took place in Kampala, Uganda on Sunday, 4th August 2013 under the theme “Towards a harmonized Approach by the Stakeholders in Building a Peaceful Somalia”. The Summit, chaired by His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, was preceded by the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Defence on 3rd August 2013.
The Summit was attended by His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya; His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. His Excellency Hassan Darar Houfaneh, Minister of Defence represented the Government of the Republic of Djibouti and His Excellency Gabriel Nizigama, Minister of Public Security represented the Republic of Burundi. His Excellency, Andrew Gbebay Bangali Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the African Union, represented the Government of Sierra Leone while Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) and Head of Mission, AMISOM represented the Africa Union (AU).
Following the report on the prevailing situation in Somalia by Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) and Head of Mission, AMISOM as well as statements made by Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Uganda, the Summit:-
1. Reaffirmed its commitment, under the auspices of the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia as well as its commitment to continue to assist the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in its stabilization efforts;
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2. Commended the achievements made by AMISOM, Ethiopia and the Somalia National Security Forces in restoring security in Somalia and in particular in degrading the ability of Al Shabaab to carry out atrocities against the people of Somalia;
3. Recalled the pivotal role played by IGAD and AU in the deployment of AMISOM and welcomed the deployment of additional troops from Djibouti, Kenya and Sierra Leone and encouraged other African countries to contribute to the stabilization effort in Somalia;
4. Further recalled the Communiqué of the 22nd Extra Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Situation on Somalia held in Addis Ababa on 3rd May, 2013 which recognizes the leadership role of the FGS in the reconciliation process as well as in the establishment of local administrations in the regions;
5. Expressed grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in some parts of Somalia, and also, condemned the recent Al Shabaab terrorist activities that have resulted in the loss of innocent civilian lives and destruction of property. In this regard, the Summit requested AMISOM to support the FGS in the realization of the FGS’ presence of government institutions, extend its authority and establish itself;
6. Recalled the concerns contained in paragraph 7 of the communiqué (PSC/PR/COMM(CCCLXXIX) of the meeting of AU Peace and Security Council adopted on 13 June, 2013 that AMISOM forces have reached their operational limits and are unable to conduct a expansion operations as envisaged in the AU-UN Strategic Concept for future operations in Somalia and supported the call to the United Nations (UN) Security Council to provide the necessary support to AMISOM and the Somalia National Security Forces to enable them reorganize, restructure, increase their forces and mobilize logistical support in order to undertake further stabilization operations and also consolidate their control over the recovered territories and to facilitate the FGS extend state authority across the country;
7. Noted that, given the evolution of the situation in Somalia, the AU Strategic Concept for future AMISOM operations in Somalia adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council in January 2012 is not in tandem with the current situation and has been over taken by other events and therefore requested the AU, in consultation with the TCCs to AMISOM, Ethiopia, Somalia as well as IGAD and the UN, in the context of the planned AU-UN Joint Review, to
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revise the Strategic Concept in order to align it with the prevailing circumstances in the Mission Area;
8. Expressed concern about ongoing discussions aimed at partial re-hatting of AMISOM, which is considered premature and may cause a dysfunctional command and control, unequal and inequitable distribution of resources and negative consequences on the operational effectiveness of the Mission;
9. Welcomed the efforts deployed by the FGS including in establishing governance structures in the recovered areas and noted the challenges being encountered in some regions;
10. Welcomed and encouraged the ongoing talks between the FGS and Jubba Region stakeholders;
11. Expressed concerns with the emergence of private security companies noting that their activities negatively impact on efforts aimed at rebuilding the Somalia National Security Forces;
12. Welcomed also the commitment of the FGS to hold elections by 2016 and expressed its support to facilitate the creation of conducive environment for the conduct of credible elections and called on the AU, IGAD, UN, European Union (EU), and all Somalia’s friends and partners to support the FGS in this regard;
13. Expressed its appreciation to the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the UN Security Council, the European Union (EU) and bilateral partners for their continued support to the stabilization of Somalia;
14. Expressed concerns about the intermittent funding pattern of AMISOM and the Somalia National Security Forces.
Consequently, the Summit:
15. Decided, in accordance with the Provisional Federal Constitution of Somalia, that the control of the Kismayo seaport and airport should be handed over to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS);
16. Stressed that in line with UN Security Council resolutions, the ban on the exportation of charcoal should be adhered to;
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17. Decided that all militias should be integrated into the Somalia National Security Forces except those associated with Al Shabaab which should be isolated;
18. Emphasized the imperative of continued African leadership and the need for AMISOM to sustain and strengthen its efforts to stabilize Somalia and reduce the threat of Al Shabaab;
19. Decided that the FGS, AMISOM and other stakeholders should cooperate to protect AMISOM troops;
20. Decided that the FGS is to take lead in the process of producing local leaders from the regions which the FGS will then appoint but in doing so, there is the need to ensure balanced participation;
21. Decided that all parties should support the establishment of Somalia National Security Forces by training educated Somalis to form the officer corps and the training of NCOs should be carried out in Somalia;
22. Decided that all unfair, unfair accusations, deliberate distortion of facts and bad mouthing of AMISOM TCCs must stop forthwith;
23. Welcomed the Addis Ababa discussions between the FGS and the Jubba Regions and called for the discussions to be fast tracked and made inclusive;
24. Encouraged the UN to procure food and other essential material for AMISOM locally where practicable;
25. Underlined the fight against Al Shabaab as the major focus of the FGS, the TCCs as well as regional and international partners;
26. Resolved to maintain their commitment to the stabilization effort in Somalia and in this regard decided to convene periodically to review the situation in Somalia;
27. Decided to support the FGS efforts to undertake political dialogue with various stakeholders and encouraged the convening of the reconciliation conference agreed upon at the 22nd Extra Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Situation on Somalia held in Addis Ababa on 3rd May, 2013;
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28. Requested IGAD to continue to play its supportive role, in line with the five principles agreed upon as the basis of stabilization efforts in Somalia as contained in the communiqué of the 22nd Extra Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Situation in Somalia held in Addis Ababa on 3rd May, 2013. In this regard, the Summit appealed to the FGS and other stakeholders to work closely in the amicable resolution of any differences;
29. Requested the FGS to hasten the process of putting in place governance structures in recovered areas, if AMISOM in its current formulation, is to make further gains in the fight against Al Shabaab. The Summit further called on other stakeholders to support the FGS in this regard;
30. Encouraged the FGS to undertake the necessary political process to establish effective governance structures across Somalia;
31. Decided to support the FGS in establishing its authority in the Jubba Regions especially its control of state owned federal infrastructure including the seaport and airport;
32. Requested the FGS to prioritize the reintegration of various militias with a view to establish a cohesive Somalia National Security Force;
33. Agreed that AMISOM and the Chiefs of Defence Forces of Ethiopia and Somalia, within the framework of the AMISOM Military Operations Coordination Committee (MOCC), in line with the operational decision reached in 2012, to urgently work out the modalities and operationalization of an AMISOM multinational force to be deployed in Kismayo;
34. Directed Chiefs of Defence Forces to meet on a quarterly basis to review the security situation in Somalia and report to the Committee of Ministers of Defence accordingly for appropriate action;
35. Requested IGAD to meet on quarterly basis in order to track progress in developments in Somalia with particular reference to rebuilding the Somalia National Security Forces and political outreach and reconciliation;
36. Requested the AU, in consultations with the TCCs, Ethiopia and Somalia, to undertake in-depth review of recent UN Security Council resolutions, notably resolution 2093 (2013) and 2033 (2013) with a view
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to unpacking their implications particularly with regards to the contemplated partial re-hatting of AMISOM, its mandate as well as its operational effectiveness;
37. Requested the AU Commission to intensify and expand its efforts in mobilizing the required support, including predictable funding, for an enhanced AMISOM with increased uniformed personnel strength and the Somalia National Security Forces;
38. Requested the AU Commission and the TCCs to fast track the ongoing troop rotation, including the Force Command elements;
39. Requested the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) and Head of Mission – AMISOM to transmit this Communiqué to the AU Commission for the attention of the AU Peace and Security Council.
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H.E. GABRIEL NIZIGAMA
MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI
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H.E. HASSAN DARAR HOUFANEH
MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF DJIBOUTI
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H. E. MR. HAILEMARIAM DESALEGN
PRIME MINISTER, FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
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H. E. UHURU KENYATTA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA
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H.E. HASSAN SHEIKH MOHAMUD
PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA
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H.E. ANDREW GBEBAY BANGALI
PERMANENT REPRESENTATING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE TO THE AFRICAN UNION REPRESENTING THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LOENE
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H.E. YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
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H.E. AMBASSADOR MAHAMAT SALEH ANNADIF
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION (SRCC) AND HEAD OF MISSION, AMISOM
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