UN Security Council Report of the Secretary-General on Somalia Political and Security Development

The following report by UN Security Council highlights on challenges United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) in carrying its duties. Also cover major gains inside Somalia.

In brief, the article covers Political and Security development in Somalia in recent past months.

Political developments

1. Notable development in Somalia is the electoral process. Though the process has been long due to various negotiations, parliamentary elections that kicked off on October 15, 2016 registered success. By 31 December, 43 members of the 54-seat upper house and 258 members of the 275-seat lower house had been elected.
2. Then followed the inauguration of the new Federal Parliament on 27 December in a joint session of the two houses.
3. Arrangements immediately started for the election of the Speakers and the country’s President.
4. There was fear of the Islamist group Al-Shabaab that it was set to disrupt the electoral process but did not manage to.
5. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) played a key role in making the electoral process a success by putting effective security arrangements.
6. Overall rating of the political development is a plus despite instances of delays, malpractice and bribery. The process was more peaceful and inclusive than it was in 2012.
7. Federal State involved in successful merger process of the Hiraan and Shabelle Dhexe regions into the new HirShabelle.
8. It took the intervention of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to convince most clan elders who had earlier opposed the process agreed to join the process.
9. Despite the witnessed clashes between Somaliland and Puntland forces in eastern Sanaag, on 18 September, after nearly eight months, Somaliland managed to conclude a voter registration exercises whereby some 850,000 voters were registered.
10. It also took official talks between the two sides that led to de-escalation and the successful completion of voter registration.
11. Parliamentary and presidential elections were initially scheduled for 28 March 2017.

Security developments

1.      Notable is how Al-Shabaab stepped up car bombings in capital Mogadishu with an intention to scare the electorate from taking part in the electoral process.

2.      Al-Shabaab intended to perpetuate a sense of insecurity among Somali populous and mostly intended to disrupt the electoral process.

3.      Al-Shabaab conducted about 10 terror events in Mogadishu and its surrounding between September 18 and December 28 in an effort to disrupt the process that was still going on.

4.      In central and southern Somalia, Al-Shabaab also continued to engage in guerrilla warfare carrying a number of attacks with some Al-Shabaab ending up as casualties.

5.      Al-Shabaab greatly took advantage in waging its insurgency following the withdrawal of Ethiopian and Somali forces from Muqakoori, Ceel Cali and Halgen, Hiraan region, on 15 September and 11 and 23 October however their gains were short-lived after intervention by AMISOM.

6.      In Puntland, there was a security challenge following on and off clashes between forces loyal to Puntland and those loyal to Galmudug in Gaalkacyo that also saw a number being killed.

7.      In Baidoa, Bay region electoral process encountered some violent incidents from militias supporting rival candidates for the lower houses on 29 October and 12 November.

In all that was happeneing, on 8 and 9 October 2016, the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security visited Somalia and met the President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,  Minister for Internal Security and the Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Agency.

He noted great improvement in the general security situation since his previous visit, in August 2014. He thanked SNA and AMISOM's effort in providing security during the election and making sure the Al-Qaeda affiliated operatives didn't crumble the process.

He reiterated the importance of the host Government in providing security support to United Nations personnel, assets and operations, given the attacks carried out against the United Nations.