Press Statement on the situation in Somalia

African Union Peace and Security Council

(08.01.2007)

The Peace and Security Council, at its meeting held on 8 January 2007, received a briefing on the situation in Somalia from the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as from IGAD (Kenya – Chair of IGAD – and the IGAD Secretariat), the Permanent Representative of Somalia to the African Union, the League of Arab States and the United Nations.

The Peace and Security Council noted that the recent developments in Somalia have represented a new and historic opportunity that should be seized upon by the Somali parties and the international community alike, with a view to fostering peace and reconciliation in Somalia.

The Peace and Security Council stressed the need for an all-inclusive political process, as provided for in the Transitional Federal Charter of Somalia, in order to consolidate stability, peace and reconciliation in the country. In this respect, the Peace and Security Council welcomed the commitment of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed to reach out to all groups in Somalia and promote an inclusive dialogue and reconciliation.

The Peace and Security Council recalled its earlier decisions on the deployment of a Peace Support Mission in Somalia to undertake tasks aimed at providing security support for the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) and institutional capacity building, as well as supporting dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia. In this regard, the Peace and Security Council underlined the urgency of the deployment of a Peace Support Mission in order to build on the current momentum to stabilize the situation and the need for continued support by the United Nations and its Security Council, as well as by the other AU partners.

The Peace and Security Council appealed to all AU Member States and the international community at large to provide the much needed assistance to alleviate the plight of the civilian population and extend all necessary support to the TFIs, including financial and technical assistance, to facilitate their effective functioning and to enable the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) deliver the services expected of it as a Government.

The Peace and Security Council agreed to reconvene shortly to finalize the plans for the deployment of an African Peace Support Mission in Somalia, based on proposals to be submitted by the African Union Commission, working closely with IGAD, the TFG and other stakeholders.

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

8 January 2007

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia