(13-12-23) NEW YORK (HN) — At the United Nations-hosted Somali Security Conference on Tuesday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud delivered a comprehensive speech outlining Somalia’s future in security and state-building. The conference, seen as a key moment for Somalia, aimed to discuss the transition to Somali security ownership and the nation’s vision for its security sector development.
President Mohamud began by expressing gratitude to international partners for their support and participation. He highlighted the significance of recent achievements such as the lifting of the Arms Embargo, debt relief under HIPC, acceptance into the East African Community, and the commencement of a constitutional review process. These steps, according to Mohamud, signify Somalia’s decade-long commitment to reform and state-building under three successive administrations.
Discussing the challenges of state-building in a post-conflict environment, the President acknowledged the complexities and the lessons learned from past experiences. He emphasised the importance of political and social reconciliation at all levels for achieving durable peace and security. In this context, he mentioned the establishment of the National Consultative Council and the forging of political agreements on various critical issues, including power-sharing and judicial models.
One of the most notable developments mentioned by President Mohamud was the upcoming deliberation of transformative political agreements in Parliament. These include solidifying the federal structure as outlined in the Somali constitution and transitioning the electoral process to enable direct voting by the Somali people. The President underscored this as a crucial step towards strengthening democracy and inclusive governance in Somalia.
However, the journey, as President Mohamud noted, has not been without setbacks. Somalia continues to face challenges like violent extremism, conflict, poverty, and climate-related disasters like droughts and floods. He pointed out that, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse emissions, Somalia is disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. The ongoing insecurity complicates efforts to develop resilient infrastructure and livelihoods.
President Mohamud proudly reflected on the previous year as a turning point in Somalia’s security. He credited the combined efforts of communities, the Somali National Armed Forces, and international partners in liberating regions from Al-Shabaab. He acknowledged setbacks and losses but stressed the ongoing revision of military tactics and the strengthening of financial policies against terrorism. Notably, he highlighted the role of local communities and religious scholars in denouncing the ideology and practises of Al-Shabaab.
The President concluded by reaffirming the importance of international support in Somalia’s journey towards stability and security. He outlined an ambitious security sector reform plan for the next six years, focusing on building capable and accountable security forces. The plan includes phases dedicated to capability building, sustaining gains, and expanding into maritime and air security. The President further noted the need for international support in this transformative phase, stressing the importance of investment in Somalia’s future and the crucial role of international partnerships in achieving a secure and prosperous Somalia.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, India, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Burundi, Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Norway, the African Union, and the European Union attended the conference.
Halqabsi News
