Declaração do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Ronaldo Costa Filho, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre a situação da Somália - 7 de setembro de 2022 (texto em inglês)

Statement by Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho,

Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations

The situation in Somalia

  United Nations Security Council

7 September 2022

Thank you, Madame President.

I thank Special Representatives James Swan, Fiona Lortan and Annette Weber for their briefings.

I also welcome the Representative of Somalia to this meeting.

Madame President,

Somalia can boast about significant political progress in 2022.

In particular, the formation of the national parliament and the peaceful and transparent presidential election on May 15.

We commend Somali political actors for the spirit of dialogue and compromise, which made these developments possible.

We also welcome the formation of the new Cabinet, which involved prolonged consultations with the several entities of Somalia’s federal structure.

The increase in the participation of women is a sign that steps are being taken in the right direction.

Overall, we are encouraged by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s emphasis on dialogue and reconciliation as key elements of his political platform.

There were also significant steps towards the reconfiguration of the presence of international partners in Somalia.

Here I have in mind the transition from AMISOM to ATMIS.

These advances, however, contrast with the dramatic humanitarian situation in the country.

We are greatly concerned by the reports that the historic drought that Somalia is currently enduring may continue into the fall, with a possible fifth consecutive failed rainy season in the coming months.

We took notice, with alarm, of the recent statement of Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths that ‘famine is at the door’.

We also recall the figures presented in the Secretary-General’s Report about the estimated number of people facing acute food insecurity, that is, 7.1 million – or 45% of Somalia`s population.

In this ghastly context, the role of international
partners is more important than ever.

We praise UNSOM and the other United Nations agencies and programs for their collaboration with the National Flood and Drought Task Force.

We also commend the over 300 humanitarian actors which provide life-saving assistance to 5.3 million Somalis under difficult logistical and security conditions.

Madame President,

The food insecurity crisis that Somalia currently faces is aggravated by the security situation in the
country, which hampers humanitarian access and
disrupts the flow of goods and agricultural supplies.

In this context, the recent attack by Al-Shabaab, which killed 20 people and burnt 7 food trucks, is particularly deplorable.

Brazil condemns terrorism in all its forms and commends the work of ATMIS personnel and Somali security forces, which have the difficult mission of bringing peace and stability to Somalia.

We know, however, that peace cannot be achieved by the use of force alone.

The political processes that I have highlighted before are key.

So is economic development, as we have pointed out time and again in this Council.

In this regard, we are encouraged by the progress in the negotiations with the IMF and the World Bank in the framework of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, with the ultimate goal of allowing Somalia to be eligible for a full debt relief.

Madame President,

Somalia can be only truly peaceful when its citizens are able to earn a decent livelihood.

The international community can play an important role in making that possible.

I thank you.