Security Council resolution 2554 (2020) [on piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia]
Symbol: S/RES/2554 (2020)
Date: 2020-12-04
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/75 [84] SOMALIA SITUATION
S/ X The situation in Somalia.
Subjects: IMO|INTERPOL|UN Office on Drugs and Crime|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|MARITIME SECURITY|HIJACKING OF SHIPS|PIRACY|SOMALIA|SOMALIA SITUATION|ARMS EMBARGO|CRIME PREVENTION|INTER-AGENCY COOPERATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2554 (2020)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 4 December 2020




               Resolution 2554 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 4 December 2020

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions concerning the situation in Somalia,
               especially resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008), 1838 (2008), 1844 (2008), 1846
               (2008), 1851 (2008), 1897 (2009), 1918 (2010), 1950 (2010), 1976 (2011), 2015
               (2011), 2020 (2011), 2077 (2012), 2125 (2013), 2184 (2014), 2246 (2015), 2316
               (2016), 2383 (2017), 2442 (2018), and 2500 (2019), as well as the Statements of its
               President (S/PRST/2010/16) of 25 August 2010 and (S/PRST/2012/24) of
               19 November 2012,
                     Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General (S/2020/1072), as requested by
               resolution 2500 (2019), on the implementation of that resolution and on the situation
               with respect to piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia,
                    Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political
               independence, and unity of Somalia, including Somalia’s sovereign rights in
               accordance with international law, with respect to offshore natural resource s,
               including fisheries,
                     Welcoming that there were no successful piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia
               in the prior 12 months, and noting that joint counter-piracy efforts have resulted in a
               steady decline in pirate attacks as well as in hijackings sinc e 2011, with no successful
               ship hijackings for ransom reported off the coast of Somalia since March 2017
               however, recognizing the ongoing threat that resurgent piracy and armed robbery at
               sea poses, noting the letter of 2 December 2020 from the Permanent Representative
               of the Permanent Mission of Somalia to the United Nations requesting international
               assistance to counter piracy off its coast, and recalling reports of the Secretary
               General and communiqués of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Soma lia
               (CGPCS), which continue to illustrate that piracy off the coast of Somalia has been
               repressed but not eradicated, and commending countries and organizations that have
               deployed naval counter-piracy missions in the region to suppress piracy and protect
               ships transiting through the waters off the coast of Somalia and the region,
                     Reaffirming that international law, as reflected in the United Nations
               Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (“The Convention”), sets out
               the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried
               out, including countering piracy and armed robbery at sea,




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                     Recognizing the need and commending the efforts of States, including in
               particular States in the region, to investigate and prosecute not only suspects captured
               at sea, but also anyone who incites or intentionally facilitates piracy operations,
               including key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy including those who
               plan, organize, facilitate or illicitly finance or profit from such attacks, and reiterating
               its concern over persons suspected of piracy having been released without facing
               justice, or released prematurely, reaffirming that the failure to prosecute persons
               responsible for acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia
               undermines anti-piracy efforts,
                     Welcoming the work of the CGPCS and the Law Enforcement Task Force
               (LETF) to facilitate the prosecution of suspected pirates and facilitators, and
               international efforts to coordinate the work of investigators and prosecutors, inter alia,
               through the LETF and collect and share information to disrupt the pirate enterprise,
               as exemplified by INTERPOL’s Global Database on Maritime Piracy, further
               commending the Padang Communique and Maritime Cooperation Declaration
               adopted by the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the operationalization of
               the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center (RMIFC) in Madagascar and
               emphasizing the need for States and international organizations to further enhance
               international efforts in this regard,
                     Welcoming efforts by the CGPCS, the United Nations Office on Drugs and
               Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the
               Maritime Security Coordination Committee (MSCC), the financing mechanism
               provided by the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Combating Piracy off the
               Coast of Somalia (the Trust Fund), and donors to strengthen regional judicial and law
               enforcement capacity to investigate, arrest, and prosecute suspected pirates as well as
               those associated with facilitating piracy and to incarcerate those convicted consistent
               with applicable international human rights law, noting with appreciation the
               assistance and capacity-building provided by UNODC Global Maritime Crime
               Programme, the Trust Fund, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the
               funded Djibouti Code of Conduct, and the European Union Capacity Building
               Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia), and recognizing the need for all engaged
               international and regional organizations to coordinate and cooperate fully,
                     Commending the efforts of the European Union Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR)
               Operation ATALANTA and EUCAP Somalia, Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined
               Task Force 151 (CMF), the counter piracy activities of the African Union onshore in
               Somalia and other States acting in a national capacity in cooperation with Somali
               authorities to suppress piracy and to protect ships transiting through the waters off
               the coast of Somalia, and welcoming the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction
               Initiative (SHADE), and the efforts of individual countries, including China, India,
               Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation, which have deployed naval
               counter-piracy missions in the region,
                     Commending the efforts of the CGPCS and Kenya, which assumed the Chair of
               the CGPCS for the period 2020 to 2022, and despite their work being severely
               restrained due to the COVID-19 pandemic welcoming their efforts to convene a
               successful virtual Friends of the CGPCS Chair meeting, with participants from over
               50 countries as well as regional and international organizations, to update on maritime
               threats and activities off the coast of Somalia and finalise the Terms of Reference for
               the Strategic Planning Steering Group that will develop a strategic plan on future
               priorities of the CGPCS, and explore the possibility of establishing a financial
               mechanism to replace the Trust Fund in consultation with FGS and in line with its
               policies,



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                Underlining the importance of cooperation between the Federal Government of
           Somalia and the Federal Member States in the development of a coast guard in
           Somalia, noting with appreciation the efforts made by the IMO and the shipping
           industry to develop and update guidance, best management practices,
           recommendations to assist ships to prevent and suppress piracy attacks off the coast
           of Somalia, and publishing the fifth version of the Best Management Practices to deter
           Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security in the Red Sea , Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean
           and the Arabian Sea (BMP5),
                 Reaffirming international condemnation of acts of kidnapping and hostagetaking, including offences contained within the International Convention against the
           Taking of Hostages, and expressing serious concern at the inhumane conditions
           hostages face in captivity, and noting the importance of cooperation between Member
           States on the issue of hostage-taking and the prosecution of suspected pirates for
           taking hostages,
                 Welcoming the readiness of the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal
           Member States to cooperate with each other and with States who have prosecuted
           suspected pirates with a view to enabling convicted pirates to be repatriated back to
           Somalia under suitable prisoner transfer arrangements, consistent with applicable
           international law, including international human rights law, to serve the full terms of
           their sentences, but expresses serious concern regarding the premature release of any
           convicted prisoners returned from Seychelles to So malia and reiterates that sentences
           served must be those passed by the courts of the prosecuting states and that any
           proposal to vary the sentences must be in conformity with agreements with Seychelles
           on the transfer of sentenced persons and consistent with applicable international law,
           including international human rights law,
                 Expressing serious concern over reports of illegal, unreported and unregulated
           fishing (IUU) in Somalia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), recognizing that IUU
           fishing can contribute to destabilization among coastal communities, and noting the
           complex relationship between IUU fishing and piracy, welcoming Somalia’s
           accession to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s Agreement on Port State
           Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
           Fishing, and the ongoing efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia towards the
           development of a legal regime for the distribution and enforcement of fishing
           licences,
                 Welcoming the release of the three Iranian seafarers from the FV Siraj as a result
           of the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Hostage Support Partnership
           who were held as hostages inside Somalia in appalling conditions, and appreciating
           the work of the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN),
           the Maritime Piracy Response Programme (MPHRP), and the CGPCS Piracy
           Survivors Family Fund (PSFF) in providing support to victims of piracy and their
           families, and recognizing the need to continue supporting these initiatives a nd
           contributions to funds,
                 Emphasizing that peace and stability within Somalia, the strengthening of State
           institutions, economic and social development, and respect for human rights and the
           rule of law are necessary to create the conditions for a durabl e eradication of piracy
           and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, and further emphasizing that
           Somalia’s long-term security rests with the effective development by Somali
           authorities of the Somali Coast Guard and Maritime Police Units, Somali Nati onal
           Army, and Somali Police Force,
                Determining that the incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast
           of Somalia, as well as the activity of pirate groups in Somalia, are an important factor


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               exacerbating the situation in Somalia, which continues to constitute a threat to
               international peace and security in the region,
                    Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                    1.    Reiterates that it condemns and deplores all acts of piracy and armed
               robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia;
                     2.     While noting improvements in Somalia, recognizes that piracy exacerbates
               instability in Somalia by introducing large amounts of illicit cash that fuels additional
               crime, corruption, and terrorism;
                     3.   Stresses the need for a comprehensive response to prevent and suppress
               piracy and tackle its underlying causes by the international community in
               collaboration with Somali authorities and other relevant actors, and encourages
               Member States to continue to cooperate with Somali authorities in the fight against
               piracy and armed robbery at sea, without impeding the exercise of high seas freedoms
               or other navigational rights and freedoms by ships of any State, consistent with
               international law, as reflected in UNCLOS;
                    4.     Underlines the primary responsibility of the Somali authorities in the fight
               against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, values the recent
               launch of the Department of Somali Maritime Administration, and welcomes the
               National Maritime Coordination Committee (NMCC) meeting convened by the FGS
               to initiate a mapping process of all maritime activities, including international
               support;
                     5.   Recognizes the need to continue investigating and prosecuting those who
               plan, organize, illicitly finance or profit from pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia,
               including key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy, and to develop the
               capacity of Somali authorities to investigate and prosecute such persons, and the
               capacity of Somalia’s Financial Intelligence Unit to identify ill icit financial activity
               and support the prosecution of pirate financiers, and urges States, working in
               conjunction with relevant international organizations, to adopt legislation to facilitate
               prosecution of suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia;
                    6.    Calls upon the Somali authorities to interdict, and upon interdiction to
               have mechanisms in place to safely return effects seized by pirates, investigate and
               prosecute pirates and to patrol the waters off the coast of Somalia to prevent and
               suppress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea;
                     7.   Calls upon the Somali authorities to make all efforts to bring to justice
               those who are using Somali territory to plan, facilitate, or undertake criminal acts of
               piracy and armed robbery at sea, and calls upon Membe r States to assist Somalia, at
               the request of Somali authorities and with notification to the Secretary -General, to
               strengthen maritime capacity in Somalia, including regional authorities and, stresses
               that any measures undertaken pursuant to this paragraph shall be consistent with
               applicable international law, in particular international human rights law;
                    8.     Encourages the Federal Government of Somalia to accede to the United
               Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and develop a
               corresponding legal architecture as part of its efforts to target money laundering and
               financial support structures on which piracy networks survive;
                    9.    Calls upon States to cooperate, as appropriate, on the issue of hostage
               taking, and the prosecution of suspected pirates for taking hostages;
                    10. Recognizes the need for Member States, international and regional
               organizations, and other appropriate partners to exchange evidence and information
               for anti-piracy law enforcement purposes with a view to ensuring effective arrest,


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           prosecution of suspected, and imprisonment of convicted pirates and key figures of
           criminal networks involved in piracy who plan, organize, facilitate, or illicitly finance
           and profit from piracy operations, and keeps under review the possi bility of applying
           targeted sanctions against individuals or entities that plan, organize, facilitate, or
           illicitly finance or profit from piracy operations if they meet the listing criteria set out
           in paragraph 43 of resolution 2093 (2013), and calls upon all States to cooperate fully
           with the Panel of Experts on Somalia, including on information -sharing regarding
           possible violations of the arms embargo or charcoal ban;
                11. Recognizes the importance of capacity building and request donors to
           consider providing support to reinforce Somalia’s national coast guard capacities
           through Human Resources development, training, equipping and building of coastal
           guard stations;
                 12. Renews its call upon States and regional organizations that are able to do
           so to take part in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of
           Somalia, in particular, consistent with this resolution and international law, by
           deploying naval vessels, arms, and military aircraft, by providing basing and
           logistical support for counter-piracy forces, and by seizing and disposing of boats,
           vessels, arms, and other related equipment used in the commission of piracy and
           armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, or for which there are reasonable
           grounds for suspecting such use;
                 13. Highlights the importance of coordination among Member states and
           international organizations in order to deter acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea
           off the coast of Somalia, commends the work of the CGPCS to facilitate such
           coordination in cooperation with the IMO, flag States, and Somali authorities,
           encourages the full participation of Somalia in all coordination efforts and urges
           continued support of these efforts;
                 14. Decides that, for a further period of 12 months from the date of this
           resolution to renew the authorizations as set out in paragraph 14 of resolution 2500
           (2019) granted to States and regional organizations cooperating with Somali
           authorities in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of
           Somalia, for which advance notification has been provided by Somali authorities to
           the Secretary-General;
                15. Affirms that the authorizations renewed in this resolution apply only with
           respect to the situation in Somalia and shall not affect the rights, obligations, or
           responsibilities of Member States under international law, including any rights or
           obligations under The Convention, with respect to any other situation, and
           underscores in particular that this resolution shall not be considered as establishing
           customary international law; and affirms further that such authorizations have been
           renewed in response to the 2 December 2020 letter conveying the request of Somali
           authorities;
                 16. Decides that the arms embargo on Somalia imposed by paragraph 5 of
           resolution 733 (1992) and further elaborated upon by paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution
           1425 (2002) and modified by paragraphs 33 to 38 of resolution 2093 does not apply
           to supplies of weapons and military equipment or the provision of assistance destined
           for the sole use of Member States, international, regional, and sub-regional
           organizations undertaking measures in accordance with paragraph 14 above, as most
           recently reaffirmed by OP 19(b) of resolution 2551 (2020);
                 17. Calls upon all States to take appropriate actions under their existing
           domestic law, or develop legislative processes, to prevent the illicit financing of acts
           of piracy and the laundering of its proceeds;



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                     18. Calls upon all States, and in particular flag, port, and coastal States, States
               of the nationality of victims and perpetrators of piracy and armed robbery, and other
               States with relevant jurisdiction under international law and national legislation, to
               cooperate in determining jurisdiction, to criminalize piracy under their domestic law,
               and to favourably consider the prosecution of suspected, and imprisonment of those
               convicted, pirates apprehended off the coast of Somalia, and their facilitators and
               financiers ashore, decides to keep these matters under r eview, including, as
               appropriate, the establishment of specialized anti-piracy courts in Somalia with
               substantial international participation and/or support as set forth in resolution 2015
               (2011), and encourages the CGPCS to continue its discussions in this regard;
                     19. Further calls upon all States to cooperate in the investigation and
               prosecution of all persons responsible for or associated with acts of piracy and armed
               robbery off the coast of Somalia, including international criminal networks involved
               in piracy who plan, organize, facilitate, or illicitly finance or profit from such attack,
               consistent with applicable international law including international human rights law;
               to ensure that all pirates handed over to judicial authorities are subject to a judicial
               process, and to render assistance by, among other actions, providing disposition and
               logistics assistance with respect to persons under their jurisdiction and control, such
               as victims, witnesses, and persons detained as a result of operations conducted under
               this resolution;
                    20. Urges all States to ensure that counter-piracy activities, particularly landbased activities, take into consideration the need to protect women and children from
               exploitation, including sexual exploitation;
                    21. Urges all States to share information with INTERPOL for use in the global
               piracy database, through appropriate channels;
                    22. Welcomes the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme’s continued
               work with authorities in Somalia and in neighbouring States to ensure that individuals
               suspected of piracy are prosecuted and those convicted are imprisoned in a manner
               consistent with applicable international law, including international human rights law,
               and welcomes the work of international and regional organizations to strengthen the
               capacity of financial intelligence units in Somalia and neighbouring states;
                    23. Recognizes the successful prosecution of piracy cases by Seychelles and
               implores regional authorities to honour transfer agreements;
                    24. Urges States parties to The Convention and the 1988 Convention for the
               Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA
               Convention) and its protocols to implement fully their relevant obligations under
               these conventions and customary international law and to cooperate with the
               UNODC, IMO, and other States and international organizations to build judicial
               capacity for the successful prosecution of persons suspected of piracy and armed
               robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia;
                     25. Acknowledges the recommendations and guidance provided by the IMO
               on preventing and suppressing piracy and armed robbery at sea; and urges States, in
               collaboration with the shipping and insurance industries and the IMO, to continue to
               develop and implement avoidance, evasion, and defensive best practices and
               advisories to take when under attack or when sailing in the waters off the coast of
               Somalia, and further urges States to make their citizens and vessels available for
               forensic investigation as appropriate at the first suitable port of call immediately
               following an act or attempted act of piracy or armed robbery at sea or release from
               captivity;
                    26. Welcomes and encourages efforts by flag States and port States to further
               consider the development of safety and security measures on board vessels, including,

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           where applicable, developing regulations for the use of privately contracted armed
           security personnel (PCASP) on board ships, aimed at preventing and suppressing
           piracy off the coast of Somalia, through a consultative process, including through the
           IMO and ISO;
                 27. Invites the IMO to continue its contributions to the prevention and
           suppression of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, in coordination, in
           particular, with the UNODC, the World Food Program (WFP), the shipping industry,
           and all other parties concerned, and recognizes the IMO’s role concerning privately
           contracted armed security personnel on board ships in high-risk areas;
                 28. Notes the importance of securing the safe delivery of WFP assistance by
           sea, and welcomes the ongoing work by the WFP, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta,
           and flag States with regard to Vessel Protection Detac hments on WFP vessels;
                 29. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council within
           eleven months of the adoption of this resolution on the implementation of this
           resolution and on the situation with respect to piracy and armed robbery at sea off the
           coast of Somalia, including assessment of National Coast Guard capabilities as well
           as voluntary reports by cooperating States and regional organizations;
                30. Expresses its intention to review the situation and consider, as appropriate,
           renewing the authorizations provided in paragraph 14 above for additional periods
           upon the request of Somali authority;
                31.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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