The Final Communique and Annexes from the Joint Security Committee

[cynical lady]

1COMMUNIQUE OF THE JOINT SECURITY COMMITTEE

Nairobi, 7 – 8 August, 2010

 

1.The Joint Security Committee (JSC) met on 7 - 8 August, under the co-chairmanship of Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke of Somalia and Mr. Augustine P. Mahiga, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General.

 

2.The TFG reaffirmed that the Committee is the primary coordination body for security sector reform.

3.The discussions were aimed to achieve an action-oriented framework on concrete progress, covering several areas, including support to the Somali Security Forces, Police and the Security Ministries.

 

4.The Committee endorsed the recommendations of its Military Technical Working Group (MTWG) and Police Technical Working Group (PTWG) as contained in Annexes I and II, respectively.

 

5.The Committee urged the TFG to take urgent steps to extend its authority in Somalia and enhance its credibility in the eyes of the Somali people.

 

6.The Committee urged the TFG to take concrete and urgent steps to move forward with the development of the security sector, including financial accountability, and to build on the momentum for international support. In this regard, Committee urges, as a priority, to adopt the National Security and Stabilization Plan and to review and move swiftly to adopt the Security Sector Assessment and operationalise its recommendations.

 

7.The Committee urged the TFG to continue its efforts to support institutional development in the security sector.

 

8.The Committee commended the efforts of the IGAD Council of Ministers and Summit, as endorsed by the Assembly of the African Union, to strengthen the TFG Security Sector and AMISOM.

 

9.The Committee commended the new initiative of the US in mobilising resources in support of the TFG and AMISOM and expressed its appreciation to all current donors and encouraged other partners to extend similar support.

 

10.The Committee encouraged the United Nations, through UNPOS, in partnership with the African Union to play a catalytic role in mobilising resources from the international community in support of the TFG and AMISOM.

 

11.The Committee welcomed AMISOM’s renewed commitment to take additional measures to ensure the protection of civilians.

 

12.The Committee commended AMISOM for continuing to extend essential basic services, such as medical assistance, to the civilian population.

 

13.The Committee welcomed the renewed commitment, by AMISOM to mentor TFG forces and its efforts to establish, in the first instance, a Safe zone in Mogadishu and the recommended that the international community gradually moves its offices back to Mogadishu.

14.

The Committee commended the efforts of the United Nations, through UNSOA to support the deployment and operations of AMISOM.

15.

The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of civilians and in this regard emphasized:

i.

All civilians need to be protected – and atrocities of the insurgents against civilians need to be exposed.

ii.

The need to provide protection to civilians including vulnerable groups as part of maintaining law and order by the police.

iii.

Avoid casualties of civilians caught in the conflict through the provision of appropriate training, information gathering, appropriate operational equipment and application of the relevant rules of engagement in conformity with international law.

iv.

Facilitate humanitarian access and safety of humanitarian workers.

16.

The Committee reviewed and adopted its revised Terms of Reference.

17.

The Committee commended the TFG and UNPOS for organizing the meeting and having detailed and result-oriented outcomes.

18.

The Committee undertook to meet more regularly, supported by technical preparations.

8 August, 2010

[cynical lady]

ANNEX I

Recommendations of the Military Technical Working Group

TFG Security Institutions, Structures and Supporting Infrastructure:

i.

The TFG needs to move quickly to update and adopt the National Security and Stabilization Plan.

ii.

The TFG and JSC to review and move swiftly to adopt the Security Sector Assessment and operationalise its recommendations.

iii.

The JSC to seek donors to refurbish the Ministry of Defence/Army Headquarters.

iv.

The TFG troops should be supported with medical facilities, welfare benefits and other sustenance requirements.

Joint Coordination Structures:

i.

The JSC endorses the Joint Coordination Structure recommended by IGAD, adopted by the African Union.

ii.

The JSC stresses the need to work quickly to integrate Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a (AWSJ) forces in the TFG military, police and security structures.

Training:

i.

The TFG to commit to providing names and details of recruits for the second batch of trainees for the EU training in Uganda by 1 September, 2010, accompanied by proper identification system.

ii.

The TFG and EU to consult on future training needs of TFG forces, especially with regard to technical and specialist elements.

iii.

International partners, as part of medium-term planning, to look into the training of Somalia forces inside Somalia.

Child Soldiers:

i.

Acknowledges the TFG policy not to recruit or use child soldiers, and welcomes its commitment to work with the international community to establish processes to prevent the recruitment of children (under the age of 18) by all groups;

ii.

Urges the TFG to set up a task force to ensure the timely implementation of the recommendations of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (December 2008, S/AC.51/2008/14).

iii.

Since insurgent forces, including the Al-Shabab, and pirates are recruiting children, there is a need for the international community and the TFG to work closely together to provide alternative livelihoods and education for Somali youths.

Stipends:

i.

Harmonize payment through a single, clear, and transparent system for sustainable stipend payments. In this regard, UNPOS will try to work towards harmonization of stipend payment systems for both police and military personnel.

ii.

Highlighted the need to seek additional donors to support stipend payments to the National Security Forces. UNPOS to take the lead in soliciting support from other partners.

[cynical lady]

ANNEX II

Recommendations of the Police Technical Working Group

Revised target for SPF strength:

i.

The revised target of SPF is 7,000 civilian police officers trained under the international community umbrella and integrated into the stipends payroll list by the end of 2010.

ii.

The target for 2011 end will be 10,000 civilian police.

Training:

i.

UNPOS to start the training of 500 SPF in Djibouti as a matter of urgency. Proposed date of starting the training is 23 August 2010. SPF, UNDP and AMISOM shall be involved in the training process.

ii.

UNDP to train another 500 Somali police recruits in Armo Police Academy in October 2010.

iii.

AMISOM to train 200 SPF junior and middle managers, commencing September 2010.

Integration of serving SPF not under stipends payroll list:

i.

TFG to report and officially confirm the status of the 925 SPF trained with German funding in Ethiopia. AMISOM and UNDP to finalize by 31st August the assessment of the training delivered to the 925 officers and to review if further training is required to fully integrate them into the SPF with inclusion in the stipends payroll list. TFG and AU to assist UNDP and AMISOM in the conduct of the assessment of these 925 SPF officers.

ii.

AMISOM and UNDP to finalize by end August the assessment of the training delivered to the 1,300 SPF officers trained in Lafoole and Labantin

1

2

Jirow and to recommend what further training is required to fully integrate them into the SPF, as well as their inclusion in the stipends payroll list. TFG to assist UNDP and AMISOM in the conduct of the assessment of these 1,300 SPF officers.

Bilateral training initiatives:

i.

TFG to ensure that all bilateral initiatives for training of the SPF officers come through the platform of the PTWG. TFG to inform immediately the PTWG, through the SPF Commissioner, about all current or future bilateral training initiatives. Bilateral initiatives for training of new police recruits should also be accompanied by stipends packages for all registered SPF.

Stipends:

i.

UNDP to finalize the backlog payment of the SPF stipends for the 2009 year, by October 2010. UNPOS to ensure the payment of stipends to all SPF trained under international community umbrella for January to May 2010 through the UNPOS Police project with Japanese funding.

ii.

USD 5.4 million would be necessary for SPF stipends, for the period June-December 2010 and the international community is urged to provide additional funding.

iii.

UNDP and TFG/SPF to work closely and to finalize by 31 August 2010 one consolidated list of all the SPF officers trained under international community umbrella and entitled to be included in the stipends process. A similar consolidated list should be presented by the TFG for the military force and to make sure that there is no duplication. The registration and stipends payment mechanisms for the police to be separated from the military, on account of legal considerations posed by various donors and UNDP.

iv.

The TFG to develop a road map for allocating funds through the Somali National budget, for the payment of salaries to the Somali Security forces, including the police.

[Land_Soldier]

I understand why you get cynical.

 

The PM of TFG is calling upun his own goverment to take urgent steps to extend its authority in Somalia and enhance its credibility.

 

I would get cynical too.