SOMALIA / PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 331st MEETING ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 29 AUGUST 2012

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 31, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 331st meeting held on 29 August 2012 in Addis Ababa, adopted the following decision on the situation in Somalia:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar G. Diarra and the statements made by the representatives of Somalia, the United Nations Office to the African Union, the United Nations Support Office to AMISOM, the European Union and the United Kingdom, on the end of the transition process in Somalia;

2. Welcomes the recent encouraging political developments in Somalia, in particular, the grassroots approach to participatory democracy and coordinated efforts of the Traditional Elders, the Technical Selection Committee and International Observers, resulting in landmark achievements not seen in the last 21 years of the country's many false starts at peace‐making;

3. Expresses satisfaction with the establishment of the National Constituent Assembly, the adoption of a new Constitution on 1 August 2012 and the inauguration of a new Federal Parliament on 20 August 2012, thereby paving the way for the election of the principal office bearers, namely, the Speaker, his Deputies and the President, to end the transition;

4. Further welcomes the election on Tuesday, 28 August 2012, of the Speaker, Professor Mohammed Sheikh Osman (Jawari) and of his two Deputies. In this regard, Council calls on all Somali stakeholders to ensure the speedy resolution of the outstanding names of parliamentary candidates;

5. Appeals to the Federal Parliament, in conformity with its Rules and Procedures, to elect, as expected, within ten days, the President, which will crown the end of the Transition and usher in a new era of peace, stability and reconstruction in Somalia. Further appeals to all the election candidates and stakeholders to accept the results;

6. Recalls the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as the joint statements of 1 May 2012 and 9 August 2012 of the AU, IGAD and the UN issuing very strong and final warnings to those bent on undermining the peace process. Council expresses its readiness to work closely with all stakeholders to forge a zero tolerance front against spoilers and stresses that spoilers will be held fully accountable for their acts. Council urges Member States and the larger international community to take measures, including sanctions, against spoilers, both within and outside Somalia. In this regard, Council stresses the need for the Somali leadership to sustain the gains thus far made with tremendous sacrifice;

7. Commends the successful implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2036 (2012) increasing the AMISOM troop level from 12,000 to 17,731, as well as the continued improvement in the overall security situation across south and central Somalia, due to the multi‐pronged operations being carried out by the Somali National Forces (SNF) and their allies, with the support of AMISOM and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). Council observes that, while the efforts deployed so far have significantly weakened Al‐Shabaab, the extremist group still remains a security threat and destabilizing presence to the new and evolving political dispensation in Somalia. In this regard, Council calls for urgent establishment of inclusive local administration for service delivery and neutralization of Al Shabaab insurgents in all areas pacified by the joint efforts of SNF, its allies and AMISOM;

8. Expresses its shock and profound grief on the demise of seven Ugandan officers, in separate accidents in Kenya, involving three helicopters on their way to deployment with AMISOM on 12 August 2012. Council condoles the Government and people of Uganda and especially the bereaved families for their untimely loss;

9. Pays tribute to all troop contributing countries for their selfless sacrifices and sustained contributions to AMISOM. In this regard, Council reiterates AU's commitment and firm determination to re‐double efforts to mobilize the necessary resources, including from non‐traditional sources, to enable AMISOM fulfill its mandate;

10. Expresses concern at the humanitarian situation in Somalia and urges Member States and the larger international community to continue providing support to the needy populations. Council stresses the need for urgent mobilization of resources towards the rehabilitation of livelihoods and economic recovery and stabilization for the benefit of the Somali population;

11. Applauds the outgoing Transitional Federal Government (TFG) for adopting the National Security and Stabilization Plan on 8 August 2012, in line with the appeal made by the Chairperson of the Commission on 11 July 2012, a decision which will enable the government to source funding for the implementation of the Somali national security empowerment program. Council extends its appreciation for the support rendered to the program by partners and appeals for more support to the Somali National Security Forces;

12. Recognizes that, while tremendous efforts have been deployed by the TFG forces, with the support of their allies and AMISOM, to ensure an enabling security environment that is obtaining on the ground in support of the political process in Somalia, the in‐coming administration faces multi‐sectoral challenges. In this regard, Council calls for the unequivocal support of both the Somali people at home and in the diaspora, as well as for the undivided attention of the international community;

13. Council decides to remain seized of the matter.