Security Council resolution 2461 (2019) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until 31 Mar. 2020]
Symbol: S/RES/2461 (2019)
Date: 2019-03-27
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/74 [84] SOMALIA SITUATION
S/ X The situation in Somalia.
Subjects: UN Assistance Mission in Somalia|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|HUMAN RIGHTS|SECURITY SECTOR REFORM|SOMALIA|SOMALIA SITUATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CÔTE D'IVOIRE
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: KUWAIT
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: POLAND
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                      S/RES/2461 (2019)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 27 March 2019




               Resolution 2461 (2019)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8494th meeting, on
               27 March 2019

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions and statements of its President on the situation
               in Somalia,
                    Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political
               independence, and unity of Somalia, and underscoring the importance of working to
               prevent destabilizing effects of regional crises and disputes from spilling over into
               Somalia,
                     Expressing serious concern at the ongoing threat posed by Al-Shabaab as well
               as the presence of affiliates linked to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also
               known as Da’esh), condemning the recent attacks on 1 January 2019 on the United
               Nations (UN) compound, the attacks on 22 March and 28 February that killed and
               injured Somali citizens and attacks in the region, and reiterating its determination to
               support efforts, to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia in accordance
               with applicable international law, including international human rights law,
               international refugee law and international humanitarian law,
                    Paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by the African Union Mission
               in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali security forces in the fight against Al -Shabaab,
               commending AMISOM and the Somalia security forces for the provision of security,
               and recognising that security provided by AMISOM remains critical at this stage,
                     Emphasising the essential role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in
               Somalia (UNSOM) in supporting the Federal Government of Somalia and its Federal
               Member States through the provision of strategic advice and good offices, c apacity
               building and the coordination of international partners’ support, and underscoring that
               this mandate is complementary to the mandates of AMISOM, the United Nations
               Country Team in Somalia and the support provided by other international partners,
                     Commending the role of UNSOM in carrying out its mandate, reiterating its
               regret at the decision of the Federal Government of Somalia to expel the Special
               Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Haysom,
               further reiterating its expectation of full cooperation between Somalia and the UN,
               including the new SRSG when appointed, and in this regard welcoming the recent
               commitment by the Federal Government of Somalia and the UN to deepen their
               partnership, expressing its full support for the Deputy Special Representative of the




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               Secretary-General, Raisedon Zenenga, the Special Representative of the Chairperson
               of the African Union Commission for Somalia and the Head of AMISOM, Francisco
               Caetano José Madeira;
                    Expressing concern over continuing tension between ‘Somaliland’ and Puntland
               and underlining the importance of the commitment of the Federal Government of
               Somalia and the Federal Member States to pursue inclusive political dialogue to
               support the peaceful resolution of disputes that threaten internal peace and security,
                     Underlining the centrality of an inclusive political settlement in the lead up to
               the 2020/21 one-person-one-vote elections and the importance of the swift
               implementation of the political, economic and security miles tones in the jointly
               agreed Mutual Accountability Framework, the conditions-based transition plan with
               clear target dates with a view to transition of the primary responsibility for security
               to the Somali security institutions and forces and the implementa tion plan for the
               national security architecture, which together lay the political, development and
               economic milestones for the completion of the political roadmap, recognising that the
               Federal Government of Somalia has the primary responsibility to delive r these
               milestones in close cooperation with Federal Member States, underscoring the
               importance of effective implementation and mutual accountability, emphasising
               UNSOM’s central role in supporting implementation, and underlining that able,
               accountable, acceptable and affordable security and justice sectors, underpinned by a
               political settlement, are a crucial part of long-term peace in Somalia,
                     Welcoming progress made in early 2018 by the Federal Government of Somalia
               on security sector, economic and political reforms, acknowledging commitments
               made by the Federal Government of Somalia to deepening federalism, conducting
               one-person-one-vote elections in 2020/2021 that are fully inclusive, credible and
               peaceful, ensuring the representation of all Somalis, and commitments to the current
               International Monetary Fund Staff-Monitored programme and a conditions-based
               transition plan,
                     Expressing concern about the significant delays towards consolidating
               Somalia’s federal system and finalisation and adoption by the Parliament of the
               electoral law, calling upon the Federal Government of Somalia and Parliament to
               make efforts towards the finalisation of the electoral law, welcoming the Federal
               Government of Somalia’s recent visit to Jubbaland and underscoring the importance
               of progress on key priorities, including power and resource-sharing, the constitutional
               review, fiscal federalism, development and implementation of the legal framework
               for the elections, all of which require political agreements that can f orm the basis for
               legislation in the Federal Parliament,
                     Welcoming the Federal Government of Somalia’s development in 2018 of a
               conditions-based transition plan with clear target dates for the progressive transfer of
               security from AMISOM to the Somali security institutions and forces, which builds
               upon the Somalia National Security Architecture endorsed on 8 May 2017 and the
               Security Pact adopted by the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Members
               States and all international partners attending the London Somalia Conference on
               11 May 2017, and welcoming some moderate progress in implementing the New
               Police Model,
                    Expressing its concern that implementation of the National Security
               Architecture and transition plan has been delayed, stressing the importan ce of Somali
               security forces and other stakeholders meeting the conditions within the transition
               plan including conducting joint operations with AMISOM, consistent with
               AMISOM’s mandate, calling on Somali leaders to reach further political agreements
               on related outstanding issues to enable implementation of the National Security
               Architecture, and reaffirming the importance of the Comprehensive Approach to

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           Security (CAS) as the key mechanism for coordinating international engagement with
           the Federal Government of Somalia on security sector reform,
                 Expressing grave concern at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia as a
           result of the drought and protracted conflict, expressing further concern about the
           number of refugees and internally displaced persons (I DPs), condemning in the
           strongest terms attacks against humanitarian and medical personnel, welcoming the
           efforts by the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Member States, the United
           Nations and the response and generous support by donors to the humanit arian crisis
           and continued support to the humanitarian response plan, encouraging further
           cooperation with international and national humanitarian actors to relieve immediate
           need and contribute to the strengthening of resilience, including for IDPs,
                 Condemning the continued violations and abuses of human rights and violations
           of international humanitarian law, including those committed against children and
           those involving sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, recalling the
           10 December 2017 UN Protection of Civilians Report and the 2017 Conclusions on
           Children and Armed Conflict (S/AC.51/2017/2), expressing concern over violence
           prior to the South-West State elections and the alleged conduct of the South-West
           State police forces, calling on the Federal Government of Somalia to fully investigate
           and hold those responsible to account, underscoring the need to respect, protect and
           promote human rights, end impunity, and hold accountable those respons ible for
           violations or abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law
           by all state and non-state actors in Somalia and reaffirming support for the United
           Nations’ zero tolerance on all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse;
                 Recognising the adverse effects of climate change, ecological changes, natural
           disasters among other factors on the stability of Somalia, including through drought,
           desertification, land degradation and food insecurity, and emphasising the need for
           adequate risk assessments and risk management strategies by governments and the
           United Nations relating to these factors, and recalling its Presidential statement
           S/PRST/2011/15,
                1.   Decides to extend until 31 March 2020 UNSOM’s mandate as set out in
           paragraph 1 of resolution 2158 (2014);
                2.    Strongly condemns recent attacks by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab
           including attacks in the region; in regards to the terrorist attack of 1 January 2019 on
           the United Nations Compound in Mogadishu that injured three United Nations
           personnel and contractors encourages the UN to continue working on strengthening
           the security of the UN compound in conjunction with the Federa l Government of
           Somalia and AMISOM;
                 3.    Requests UNSOM to maintain and strengthen its presence in all of the
           Federal Member States, subject to United Nations security requirements and as the
           security situation allows, welcomes the strong relationship between UNSOM, the
           United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), the United Nations Country
           Team and AMISOM, and underlines the importance of all entities continuing to
           strengthen the relationship further at all levels, including through the Senior
           Leadership Coordination Forum;
                 4.    Expresses its deep appreciation for UNSOM’s support to the Federal
           Government of Somalia as set out in paragraph 1 of resolution 2158 (2014) and in
           particular with regard to the development of an inclusive political settlement and
           preparations for the inclusive one-person-one-vote elections in 2020/2021, state-level
           elections, the constitutional review process, mediation, prevention and resolution of
           conflicts, the development of an independent police and federal justice system,



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               strengthening the rule of law and security sector reform, and co ordinating capacitybuilding support on anti-corruption issues;
                     5.    Urges the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States
               to accelerate the Somali Government-led inclusive political settlement through
               regular high-level dialogue between the Federal Government of Somalia and the
               Federal Member States, through the National Security Council Mechanism, with
               Parliament and through inclusive dialogue, and further requests UNSOM’s support in
               this regard;
                     6.    Emphasises the need for reconciliation, including inter-and intra-clan
               reconciliation, across the country as the basis of a long-term approach to stability,
               urges the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States to pursue
               reconciliation talks at the local, regional and national level, acknowledges progress
               made towards the finalisation of the National Reconciliation Framework, and calls
               upon the Federal Government of Somalia and the South-West State to address
               allegations of human rights violations and abuses prior to the South -West State
               elections, urges resumption of the dialogue between the Federal government and
               “Somaliland”, and requests UNSOM to continue supporting these efforts in close
               cooperation with partners;
                     7.   Welcomes the Baidoa Agreement on 5 June 2018 between the Federal
               Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States on a system of representation,
               and the establishment of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC)
               offices at sub-national level and urges the Federal Government of Somalia and
               Parliament to finalise and adopt the electoral law by mid -2019 and ensure the
               upcoming Federal Member States’ elections are conducted in accordance with
               Somalia’s international obligations and commitments;
                      8.   Underlines the importance of UNSOM’s political and technical support,
               as well as operational and logistical support, in collaboration with UNSOS, to the
               Federal Government of Somalia for the delivery of inclusive, peaceful, free and fair
               one-person-one-vote elections in 2020/2021, in particular support to the NIEC at
               national and sub-national levels to fulfil its constitutional mandate, in line with its
               Strategic Plan for 2017–2021, including nationwide voter registration by the end of
               the first quarter of 2020, polling operations and coordination of international electoral
               support to Somalia;
                     9.   Reaffirms the importance of the full, equal and effective participation of
               all Somalis, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, IDPs and refugees in
               the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacebuilding and elections, urges the
               Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States to increase representation
               and participation of women and youth at all decision-making levels and requests
               UNSOM to continue to provide technical advice and capacity in this regard;
                     10. Welcomes the progress made by the Federal Government of Somalia to
               meet the requirements of the ongoing IMF Staff Monitored Programme, encourages
               the Federal Government of Somalia to continue to fulfil its commitments to sound,
               transparent and accountable financial management including revenue mobilisation,
               resource allocation, budget execution, and anti-corruption measures, as set out in the
               New Partnership for Somalia, urges the Federal Government of Somalia and the
               Federal Member States to establish frameworks for managing resources and power
               sharing, and requests UNSOM to continue to work with partners to provide support
               and strategic policy advice to bolster the Government’s ability to deliver services,
               attract investment, and help advance Somalia along the path towards normalisation
               with International Financial Institutions and debt relief;



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                 11. Urges the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States
           to accelerate implementation of key security sector reforms, with the support of
           UNSOM, international partners AMISOM and UNSOS, including a coherent National
           Security Architecture, with a military and civilian component, urges the Federal
           Government of Somalia to resume the implementation of the transition plan with clear
           target dates for the progressive transfer of security from AMISOM to the Somali
           security institutions and forces, to generate and integrate regional and federal forces
           that are able, affordable, acceptable and accountable and establish effective and
           accountable rule of law institutions, with a view to taking on lead responsibility for
           providing inclusive security, reminds the Federal Government of Somali and Federal
           Member States of their commitments to engage in regular dialogue on security sector
           reforms and underlines the importance of investing in effective and accountable rule
           of law institutions;
                12. Welcomes the completion by the Federal Government of Somalia of the
           operational readiness assessment of regional forces, and the completion of the
           biometric registration of the Somali National Army which has enabled regular salary
           payments by the Federal Government of Somalia and further welcomes some progress
           on the implementation of the New Police Model;
                13. Further underlines the importance of collaboration between the Federal
           Government of Somalia and international partners in the delivery of agreed, somali -
           led political and security reforms, welcomes commitments by international partners,
           including new donors, to provide support, consistent with the Security Pact agreed at
           the London Somalia Conference, acknowledging that mutually agreed partnership
           coordination mechanisms remain essential for agreeing priorities and coordinating
           resources and support, calls upon the Federal Government of Somalia to revitalise the
           coordination structures along the Comprehensive Approach to Security, and requests
           UNSOM to support through coordination and strategic advice in order to accelerate
           implementation of the Comprehensive Approach to Security;
                 14. Calls upon the Federal Government of Somalia, UNSOM and UNSOS to
           continue and strengthen their cooperation in implementing the UN ’s Human Rights
           Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP), requests UNSOM to support United Nations entities
           to ensure system-wide implementation of the HRDDP across all United Nations
           support to AMISOM and the Somali security sector, to include a strong focus on
           strengthening engagement with the Federal Government of Somalia, including on
           mitigation measures;
                 15. Emphasises the vital importance of ensuring that all steps towards security
           sector reform and any measures taken to counter terrorism are compliant with
           Somalia’s obligations under international law, in particular international human rights
           law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, as applicable,
           including with respect to ending and preventing recruitment, re -recruitment and the
           use of children in armed conflict, requests UNSOM, in coordination with
           international partners, to continue its support to the Federal Government of Somalia’s
           implementation of Somalia’s National Strategy and Action Plan for Preventing and
           Countering Violent Extremism in order to strengthen Somalia ’s capacity to prevent
           and counter terrorism, and calls upon Somalia to become party to the international
           counter-terrorism conventions and protocols;
                 16. Expresses its concern about all violations of international humanitarian
           law and violations and abuses of human rights, including those involving sexual and
           gender-based violence in conflict, including by Al-Shabaab and affiliates linked to
           the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da ’esh), calls on all
           parties to comply with their obligations under international law and to fulfil their
           obligations under international humanitarian law, as applicable, and to take all

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               feasible precautions to protect the civilian population and to avoid or, in any event to
               minimise, civilian deaths and casualties, and further reiterates the urgent and
               imperative need to hold accountable all those responsible for such violations and
               abuses;
                     17. Strongly condemns continued violations and abuses against children
               including the continued recruitment and use of children, rape and sexual violence and
               abduction, especially by Al-Shabaab in Somalia, urging all parties to the conflict to
               take appropriate measures to end and prevent further such violations and abuses, and
               to identify those responsible for such violations and abuses, to consider as victims
               those children who have been released or otherwise separated from armed forces and
               armed groups, to cease detention of all children on national security charges where it
               is in violation of applicable international law, calls upon the Federal Government of
               Somalia to implement fully the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (the
               Convention), and the Action Plans signed in 2012, the Somali National Army
               Command Order on the Protection of Children’s Rights before, during and after
               operations and the Standard Operating Procedures on the handover of children, and
               underscores the need to strengthen the legal and operational framework for the
               protection of children, including by becoming a party to the Optional Protocols to the
               Convention;
                     18. Commends the efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal
               Member States, the United Nations humanitarian agencies and their humanitarian
               partners in delivering aid to those most in need, encourages all partners including
               donors to maintain humanitarian efforts in 2019, strongly condemns any misuse or
               obstruction of humanitarian assistance, including attacks against humanitarian and
               medical personnel, reiterates its demand that all parties allow and facilitate full, safe,
               rapid and unhindered access for the timely delivery of aid to persons in need across
               Somalia in line with the humanitarian principles, including by dismantling illegal
               checkpoints and removing administrative hurdles, and underlines the importance of
               proper accounting in international humanitarian support;
                     19. Expresses its serious concern at the ongoing forced evictions of IDPs in
               Somalia, stresses that any eviction should be consistent with relevant national and
               international frameworks, calls upon the Federal Government of Somalia and the
               Federal Member States and all relevant actors to implement durable solutions for
               internal displacement, and to create the conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe,
               dignified and sustainable return of refugees and IDPs with the support of the
               international community;
                     20. Commends the Federal Government of Somalia for signing the Convention
               on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the signing into law of the National
               Disability Agency Bill in December 2018, underlines the need for the Federal
               Government of Somalia to accelerate the appointment of the National Human Rights
               Commissioners on the basis of merit, the establishment of the Constitutional Court
               and the operationalisation of the Judicial Service Commission, calls on the Federal
               Government of Somalia to implement legislation aimed at protecting human rights
               and investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of crimes involving violations or
               abuses of human rights, violations of international humanitarian law, and conflict -
               related sexual and gender-based violence, urges the Federal Government of Somalia,
               with the support of the United Nations, to accelerate the implementation of the Joint
               Communiqué and the National Action Plan to Combat Sexual Violence in Conflict
               and requests UNSOM to continue to provide technical advice and capacity-building
               support to the National Human Rights Commission, and support the Federal
               Government of Somalia to promote and protect human rights in Somalia;



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                21. Requests the United Nations and the Federal Government of Somalia and
           the Federal Member States to consider the adverse implications of climate change,
           other ecological changes and natural disasters, among other factors, in their
           programmes in Somalia, including by undertaking risk assessments and risk
           management strategies relating to these factors and further requests the Secretary-General to provide information of such assessments in mandated reporting as
           appropriate;
                22. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council regularly
           informed on the implementation of this resolution, identify and report on progress
           towards achieving key political benchmarks, including through oral updates and no
           fewer than four written reports, with the first written report by 15 May 2019 and every
           90 days thereafter;
                23.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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