Somalia: OIC summit wraps up in Mogadishu

[Deeq A.]

MOGADISHU (Caasimada Online)–The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Somalia has wrapped up ministerial summit in kicked off in Somali capital Mogadishu.

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has opened the meeting which reviewed the latest developments in Somalia.

The OIC summit was focused on peace and state building process, stabilization efforts and the democratization process in Somalia.

Here is final communiqué from OIC meeting in Somali capital Mogadishu

1. The Meeting highlighted the importance of the respect for the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Somalia by all Somali leaders, as well as unified increased political commitment from the international community.

2. The Meeting noted with satisfaction the landmark political agreements between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS) on the electoral model 2020 and the resource sharing reached in Baidoa in June 2018. These agreements will decisively contribute to the consolidation of the Federal model of government and the establishment of a durable political framework for the country.

4. The Meeting commended the progress made towards achieving reconciliation among Somalis, stability, security, economic growth and prosperity, and equitable representation for all women, men and the youth in Somalia, since the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. It also acknowledged the laudable efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia, the Federal Member States, the Benadir Regional Administration (BRA), the Parliament, religious authorities, the private sector and many Somali citizens as well as civil society.
5. The Meeting commended the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the Somali Security Forces, the Troop and Police Contributing Countries and AMISOM for their sacrifices in the stabilization project, and urged them to sustain the momentum essential to Somalia’s progress. It paid tribute to those who lost their lives and

appealed to the UNSC to consider lifting fully the arms embargo imposed on Somalia in order to accelerate the building of Somalia’s capacity in the security sector.

5. The Meeting appealed to the international community to accelerate the provision of financial and logistical support to the Somali Security Forces and stressed the importance of training the Somali national army to enhance security situation in the country. The Participants welcomed in this context the opening of the Anatolia Military Training Center in Mogadishu at the end of September 2017. The Meeting also commended the efforts of the Bosaso-based UAE Military Training Centre, established in 2011.

6. The Meeting strongly condemned violent extremism and all acts of terrorism perpetrated by the Al-Shabaab militant group which continues to attack innocent civilians, AMISOM and the Somali security forces in their continuing desperate failed attempts to destabilize the Somali democratic project and the region and to hinder the reconstruction and rehabilitation process underway in the country. It emphasized that such abhorrent acts of violence run counter to the Islamic values of peace, moderation and the respect for the sanctity of human life. The Meeting called on militants to renounce violence and embrace the offer of the Somali Government to join the peace and reconciliation process.

7. The Meeting welcomed the Somali Federal Government’s sentiments of appreciation for the States that participated in transporting and treating the injured in their respective countries, following the deadly terrorist attack of 14 October 2017. It commended in this connection the support provided by Djibouti, Egypt, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, Turkey, and the UAE.

8. The Meeting welcomed the outcome of the Somalia Partnership Forum held in Brussels on 16-17July 2018 as a follow up on the progress since the conferences in London and Mogadishu held respectively in May and December 2017, in which the OIC participated. It called for an enduring international partnership with the Somali authorities to realize the goals of the New Partnership for Somalia.

10. The Meeting also welcomed the recent positive developments in the Horn of Africa.
11. The Meeting further noted with appreciation the Humanitarian Coordination Forum jointly convened by the OIC and its partners on 11 April 2017 in Mogadishu to strengthen partnership among relevant stakeholders, including national and international NGOs, the UN, FGS and donors to raise awareness on the drought situation and act to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable people. The efforts of the international community and Somali diaspora helped to avert a famine in 2017.

 

11. The Meeting welcomed the timely initiative of Turkey, as the Summit Chair of OIC, for having organized an OIC mission to assess the humanitarian situation in drought-affected countries including Somalia, to collect firsthand information regarding the humanitarian situation on the ground and to determine the requirements of these countries to overcome the severe impacts of the ongoing drought that may continue several years according to several climate forecasts.

12. The Meeting requested the OIC Member States and financial institutions to step up their assistance including humanitarian assistance to the FGS and the vulnerable regions, to build a Resilience and Recovery Framework (RRF), consistent with the

“New Partnership for Somalia”.

13. The Meeting reviewed the OIC’s overall engagement in Somalia and welcomed the transformation of the OIC Developmental Office into an OIC Mission to contribute to the long term political and socio-economic development of the country. In this context, it requested the Secretary General to explore ways and means to reinvigorate the said Office to further strengthen the support of Somalia’s inclusive policies and reconciliation efforts.

 

14. The Meeting congratulated the Member States which have already re-opened their diplomatic missions in Mogadishu in accordance with the conclusions of the meeting at ministerial level of the Contact Group held on the sidelines of the 72^nd session of the UNGA in New York and requested other Member States of the OIC to reopen their diplomatic missions in Mogadishu.

15. The Meeting also called on the OIC Member States, financial institutions and Islamic NGOs to continue to generously extend humanitarian assistance in order to alleviate the suffering of the Somali IDPs and refugees including supporting the efforts of the host countries and the Government of Somalia.

17. The Meeting called for direct financial support to be provided to the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia with a view to strengthening its institutions; and commended in this regard the budgetary support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Turkey to the Federal Government of Somalia, as well as the financial and material assistance which Egypt extends along with covering transfer expenses of severe cases to Egyptian hospitals; lauds the support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amounting to 6 billion Saudi Riyal; and equally praises the State of Qatar’s support to Somalia and called on other sisterly countries to continue to support Somalia.
18. The Meeting welcomed the progress achieved by the Government of Somalia in the implementation of the third IMF Program. The meeting urged the OIC member states to support the Government of Somalia in its efforts to attain debt relief to reduce the burden on the Somali people.

 

18. The Meeting  welcomed  the  State of  Kuwait’s  initiative  to  host  the  Donor’s Conference to Promote Education in Somalia, and called on the General Secretariat to pursue its efforts to hold the Conference on Intellectual Security and Counter-Extremism next December.

19. The Meeting expressed its deep appreciation to His Excellency President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, His Excellency Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, and His Excellency Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad for their support and participation. It also expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the people of Somalia, the President and the government for their efforts to successfully hold this meeting and the warm hospitality afforded the delegations of Member States and the General Secretariat.

20. The Meeting decided to convene its next meeting in 2019.

PRESS RELEASE