A comprehensive plan for Somalia’s future security and statehood was outlined in a historic UN meeting in New York on Tuesday by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The meeting, orchestrated by Somalia, gathered significant international stakeholders, including representatives from 26 countries, the United Nations, the Arab League, the European Union, and the African Union. President Mohamud presented a robust agenda focusing on rebuilding Somalia’s security forces, eradicating areas under terrorist control, and enhancing regional and global security cooperation. The discussion also included strategies for withdrawing ATMIS (African Union Mission in Somalia) troops, a vital step in ensuring Somalia’s political stability and sovereignty.
In a statement highlighting the nation’s progress, President Mohamud said, “The ongoing reduction of ATMIS troops in Somalia is a clear indication of the strides we have made in securing our nation with capable local security agencies ready to assume full responsibility.” This move underscores Somalia’s growing confidence in handling its security challenges independently.
A pivotal moment in the meeting was the acknowledgment of the UN Security Council’s decision to lift the arms embargo on Somalia, a significant turning point after over three decades. “This historic decision by the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo is not just a victory for Somalia but also a recognition of our advances in arms and ammunition management,” President Mohamud added. The lifting of the embargo enables the comprehensive equipping of the Somali National Army, a critical component in the nation’s security development plan.
The resolution also included the reimposition of an embargo on al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants.
Attendees of this significant meeting included key global and regional players such as the United States, Britain, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, India, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Burundi, and several European nations.
The Somali government, under President Mohamud’s leadership, has set an ambitious deadline to expel the al Shabaab militant group within a year, coinciding with the scheduled departure of the remaining African Union peacekeepers next December.
Al Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, has been waging a severe insurgency against the Somali government since 2006, aiming to establish a regime based on a stringent interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. The efforts of the Somali government, supported by international allies, are crucial in countering this threat and ensuring the nation’s security and sovereignty.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will remain in New York to witness a significant moment in his country’s economic history. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are set to announce a landmark $4.5 billion debt relief for Somalia on Tuesday, a vital step under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. This achievement will propel Somalia to the “Completion Point,” making it the 37th beneficiary of the enhanced HIPC Initiative. This debt relief will drastically reduce Somalia’s debt from $5.2 billion to $600 million, a monumental decline that brings its external debt to less than 6% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to 64% in 2018.
This dramatic reduction, achieved through negotiations with various creditors, including the Paris Club and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, involves $3 billion from commercial creditors and significant contributions from international organizations. The World Bank’s International Development Association is contributing $448.5 million, the IMF $343.2 million, and the African Development Fund $131 million. This landmark achievement resonates with the goals of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who has prioritized debt relief to boost investor confidence, access concessional and climate financing, and reintegrate Somalia into the international financial system.
