The International Contact Group on Somalia met in London on 6 June to
discuss mechanisms for advancing the political process and stabilizing
the security situation in Somalia.
Despite the recent improvement in the security situation, the Contact
Group expresses its serious concern at the continued sporadic violence
in Mogadishu and the deaths and injuries caused by it. The Contact Group
condemns the recent attack on Prime Minister Gedi and calls on all
parties to agree immediately on a formal and sustainable cessation of
hostilities and the protection of civilians. The Contact Group strongly
condemns actions of extremists and terrorists and those looking to
undermine the political and reconciliation process, and calls on the
international community to do everything it can to prevent further
attacks.
The Contact Group agrees to continue to work with all parties to ensure
that all humanitarian needs of the Somali people are addressed. The
Contact Group calls on the TFG and all parties to provide free and
unhindered humanitarian access. The Contact Group is committed to help bring about a safe and stable
environment for the political transition and reconciliation process.
The Contact Group congratulates AMISOM for the work it is doing in
Mogadishu and encourages further immediate support, including from
non-traditional donors. The Contact Group looks forward to receiving UN
plans for a follow-on UN mission, and encourages urgent consideration of
funding mechanisms for AMISOM.
The Contact Group believes that the National Reconciliation Congress is
the primary vehicle to demonstrate an inclusive approach to governance,
help deliver security for the Transitional Government and the people of
Somalia, and advance political reconciliation. The Contact Group
believes that, as laid out in the Transitional Federal Government’s Road
Map, one of the outcomes of the Reconciliation Congress should be a fair
and equitable representation in the Transitional Federal Institutions
and that a comprehensive and meaningful political process continues as
outlined in the Transitional Federal Charter.
The Contact Group welcomes, therefore, the assurances given by the
Transitional Federal Government that the Reconciliation Congress will be
fully inclusive and that no clan or sub clan, or individual members of
them who renounce violence and are selected by their clans, are excluded
from the reconciliation process; that participation will be determined
by the relevant groups without interference; that a process leading to
permanent peace and stability in Somalia will be agreed upon; that the
Transitional Federal Institutions will respect and implement the
outcomes of the Reconciliation Congress in accordance with the terms of
the Transitional Federal Charter. The Contact Group urges that the
Reconciliation Congress should lead to a process of genuine political
reconciliation. In this regard, the Contact Group agrees to fund the
Congress. The Contact Group noted the Transitional Federal Government’s
request for assistance in isolating those elements seeking to undermine
the political process through acts of violence. The Contact Group is
committed to the right of democratic rights of expression.
The Contact Group agreed on the following action points: that it would
encourage the Transitional Federal Government and other Somali
stakeholder groups to communicate with each other, including by
volunteering ICG ‘Good Offices’ to further dialogue; encourage further
support for deployment of AMISOM, including support from non-traditional
donors and review and enhance the financing mechanism of AMISOM; support
the formulation, implementation and verification of a Somali-agreed
cease fire arrangement, including by urgently convening a technical
working group to identify the critical steps required and the benchmarks
of progress; assist Somali stakeholders in developing an appropriate
over-arching security sector strategy that is linked to a political
process through the NSSP, revised if necessary
Agreed in London on 6 June 2007
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