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
19 11-51372
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.
11-51372 20
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
21 11-51372
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
11-51372 22
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.