A high-level meeting in Doha addresses Somalia’s security and humanitarian concerns

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High-level representatives from Qatar, Somalia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America convened in Doha yesterday for their third meeting to tackle the pressing issues facing Somalia.

The discussions focused on security, political stability, and the urgent humanitarian crisis gripping the nation.

During the meeting, the participating partners reiterated their unwavering support for the Federal Government of Somalia’s quest for security and stability. They engaged in dialogue on bolstering confidence-building measures, enhancing capacity-building initiatives, and emphasizing coordinated efforts to combat terrorism and ensure international security assistance.

The representatives commended the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to strengthening its security sector and preparing to assume responsibility from the African Union Transition Mission by December 2024. In light of this, they agreed to intensify coordination efforts among themselves and other international partners and friends of Somalia.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab has been fighting since 2006 to topple Somalia’s central government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Despite a relatively successful government pushback, it has launched significant attacks against hotels, military bases and government establishments.

Discussions also revolved around the significance of establishing stability and good governance in areas liberated from the al-Shabaab. The partners expressed their dedication to enhancing coordination and support for Somali-led efforts to stabilize these regions. In this regard, the Federal Government of Somalia offered to share its approach to coordinating stabilization endeavours with the attending partners.

Additionally, the partners reiterated their unwavering political support for Somalia’s pursuit of meeting the technical benchmarks related to weapons and ammunition management to enable the UN Security Council to fully lift the arms controls on the Somali Federal Government.

The Partners affirmed their support for the Somali National Consultative Council (NCC) process to promote political reconciliation and delineate government responsibilities to ensure stability in Somalia.

Addressing the conflict in and around the disputed town of Las Anod, the partners expressed their unequivocal support for the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment to de-escalation and conflict resolution. They called upon all parties involved to reach and abide by a ceasefire agreement, engage in inclusive dialogue, and pursue peaceful dispute resolution.

Since February 6th, the disputed city of Las Anod has been engulfed in violent clashes between the forces of the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland and local militias associated with the Dhulbahante clan in northern Somalia. Disturbingly, Las Anod’s hospitals have reported a death toll of 299, with 1,913 individuals injured and over 200,000 displaced since the commencement of the conflict.

Acknowledging the crucial role of effective financial management in the public sector, the partners stressed the need for continued progress to guarantee Somalia’s successful completion of the debt relief process and to plan for effective economic governance thereafter.

Committing to ongoing collaboration, the partners agreed to reconvene in Türkiye for further discussions and to assess the progress made in the areas discussed.