III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 573 

Urging the development of a comprehensive strategy to ensure stability in 

Somalia, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 29, 2010 

Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. FRANKEN, and Mr. 

CARDIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 

Reported by Mr. KERRY, with an amendment and an amendment to the 

preamble 

[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic] 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 

Considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble 

RESOLUTION 

Urging the development of a comprehensive strategy to 

ensure stability in Somalia, and for other purposes. 

Whereas Somalia has been without a functioning central government since 1991, resulting in lawlessness and an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation; 

Whereas, despite the return of the internationally recognized 

Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to Mogadishu 

and ongoing diplomatic efforts through the Djibouti 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 573 ATS 

Peace Process, supported by the United Nations, there 

has been little improvement in the governance or stability 

of southern and central Somalia, and armed opposition 

groups continue to exploit this situation; 

Whereas the traditional mediation role played by Somali elders has been eroded as the dynamics of conflict and the 

proliferation of weapons make it difficult to influence 

warring parties; 

Whereas, since 2007, armed violence has resulted in the 

deaths of at least 21,000 people in Somalia and the displacement of nearly 2,000,000 people, including over 

500,000 refugees in Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia, Eritrea, 

Djibouti, Tanzania, and Uganda; 

Whereas the United Nations estimates that 3,200,000 people, 

or 43 percent of the population of Somalia, are in need 

of humanitarian assistance and livelihood support to survive; 

Whereas the United Nations reports that almost 1,000,000 

displaced Somalis in need of aid cannot be reached by 

United Nations refugee and food agencies because of 

growing insecurity and the threat of kidnappings to staff; 

Whereas local humanitarian organizations are trying to meet 

the needs of the Somali people by restoring basic social 

services in urban and rural communities, which places 

them on the front lines of the conflict and make them 

vulnerable targets for killings, kidnappings, or being accused of working for foreign governments; 

Whereas al Shabaab, which has been designated as a foreign 

terrorist organization by the Department of State, and 

other armed groups continue to wage war against the 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 573 ATS 

Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu and one 

another to gain control over territory in Somalia; 

Whereas al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for many 

bombings—including suicide attacks—in Mogadishu, as 

well as in central and northern Somalia, typically targeting officials of the Government of Somalia and perceived allies of the TFG; 

Whereas, according to Human Rights Watch, al Shabaab is 

subjecting inhabitants of areas under its control in southern Somalia to executions, cruel punishments, including 

amputations and floggings, and repressive social control; 

Whereas the human rights situation in Somalia has dramatically worsened over the past several years with increased 

numbers of killings, torture, kidnappings, and rape; 

Whereas the 2009 Department of State Country Terrorism 

Report notes that ‘‘Somalia’s fragile transitional Federal 

government, protracted state of violent instability, its 

long, unguarded coastline, porous borders, and proximity 

to the Arabian Peninsula, made the country an attractive 

location for international terrorists seeking a transit or 

launching point for operations in Somalia or elsewhere’’; 

Whereas the situation in southern and central Somalia, particularly the activity of al Shabaab, poses direct threats 

to the stability of Puntland and Somaliland regions, as 

well as the stability of neighboring states and the wider 

region; 

Whereas al Shabaab leaders have stated their intent to provide recruits and support for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen; 

Whereas the Government of Eritrea has provided military 

and financial support for armed opposition groups, inVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:37 Oct 01, 2010 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR573.ATS SR573

hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 573 ATS 

cluding al Shebaab, in part as a proxy front in its continuing tensions with Ethiopia; 

Whereas, according to the most recent report by the United 

Nations Somalia Monitoring Group, arms, ammunitions, 

and military or dual-use equipment continue to enter Somalia at a fairly steady rate, in violation of the general 

and complete arms embargo imposed in 1992; 

Whereas, in July 2009, the Department of State confirmed 

that, in addition to other support for the TFG, it had 

provided cash to purchase weapons and ammunitions for 

the TFG’s efforts ‘‘to repel the onslaught of extremist 

forces which are intent on destroying the Djibouti peace 

process’’; 

Whereas, according to most recent report by the United Nations Somalia Monitoring Group, ‘‘[d]espite infusions of 

foreign training and assistance, government security 

forces remain ineffective, disorganized and corrupt — a 

composite of independent militias loyal to senior government officials and military officers who profit from the 

business of war and resist their integration under a single command’’; 

Whereas, on April 13, 2010, President Barack Obama issued 

an executive order to sanction or freeze the assets of militants who threaten, both directly and indirectly, the stability of Somalia, as well as individuals involved in piracy 

off Somalia’s coast; 

Whereas, in March 2009, at a hearing of the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the Senate, Andrew Liepman, Deputy Director of Intelligence at 

the National Counterterrorism Center, noted that 

‘‘[s]ince 2006, a number of U.S. citizens [have] traveled 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 573 ATS 

to Somalia, possibly to train in extremist training 

camps’’; 

Whereas, in September 2009, at a hearing of the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the 

Senate, the Director of the National Counterterrorism 

Center Michael Leiter testified that ‘‘the potential for alQaeda operatives in Somalia to commission Americans to 

return to the United States and launch attacks against 

the Homeland remains of significant concern’’; 

Whereas al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the bombings in Kampala, Uganda on July 11, 2010, which killed 

76 people, including one American, and wounded scores 

of other people; and 

Whereas the extraordinary and ongoing crisis in Somalia has 

enormous humanitarian consequences and direct national 

security implications for the United States and our allies 

in the region: Now therefore be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) acknowledges the urgency of addressing the 

3 threats to United States national security in Somalia 

4 and the conditions that foster those threats; 

5 (2) reaffirms its commitment to stand with all 

6 the people of Somalia who aspire to a future free of 

7 terrorism and violence through advancing political 

8 reconciliation and building legitimate and inclusive 

9 governance institutions; 

10 (3) recognizes the difficult, but very important, 

11 work being done by the African Union Mission in 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 573 ATS 

1 Somalia (AMISOM) to help secure parts of 

2 Mogadishu, and reaffirms its support for the mis3 sion; 

4 (4) calls on the Transitional Federal Govern5 ment in Somalia— 

6 (A) to cease immediately any use of child 

7 soldiers; 

8 (B) to ensure better accountability and 

9 transparency for all received security assistance; 

10 (C) to renew its commitment to political 

11 reconciliation; and 

12 (D) to take necessary steps toward becom13 ing a more legitimate and inclusive government 

14 in the eyes of the people of Somalia; 

15 (5) calls on all actors and governments in the 

16 region, particularly the Government of Eritrea, to 

17 play a productive role in helping to bring about 

18 peace and stability to Somalia, including ceasing to 

19 provide any financial or material support to al 

20 Shabaab and other armed opposition groups in So21 malia; 

22 (6) welcomes efforts by the President to bring 

23 greater focus and resources toward understanding 

24 and monitoring the situation in Somalia; 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
7 

•SRES 573 ATS 

1 (7) urges the President to develop a comprehen2 sive strategy to ensure that all United States hu3 manitarian, diplomatic, political, and counterter4 rorism programs in Somalia and the wider Horn of 

5 Africa are coordinated and making progress toward 

6 the long-term goal of establishing stability, respect 

7 for human rights, and functional, inclusive govern8 ance in Somalia; 

9 (8) urges the President and Secretary of State, 

10 as part of a comprehensive strategy— 

11 (A) to provide greater support for a range 

12 of diplomatic initiatives to engage clan leaders, 

13 business leaders, and civil society leaders in So14 malia and the Somali Diaspora in political rec15 onciliation and consensus-building; 

16 (B) to ensure better oversight, monitoring, 

17 and transparency of all United States security 

18 assistance provided to the TFG; 

19 (C) to increase and strengthen the United 

20 States diplomatic team working on Somalia, in21 cluding the appointment of a senior envoy, and 

22 to ensure that these officials have the necessary 

23 resources, access, and mandate; 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
8 

•SRES 573 ATS 

1 (D) to pursue opportunities for periodic, 

2 temporary United States Government travel to 

3 Somalia, consistent with any security concerns; 

4 (E) to expand and deepen our engagement 

5 with the regional administration of Puntland 

6 and other regional administrations in order to 

7 promote good governance, effective law enforce8 ment, respect for human rights, and stability in 

9 these regions; 

10 (F) to provide additional humanitarian, de11 velopment, and security assistance to the region 

12 of Somaliland, recognizing the positive develop13 ments in that region with respect to consoli14 dating multi-party democracy, which was evi15 dent in the recent election there; 

16 (G) to outline punitive measures and in17 centives that can be used with the Government 

18 of Eritrea to bring a halt to its financial and 

19 material support for armed opposition groups in 

20 Somalia, including steps to improve bilateral re21 lations and to push for a resolution of Eritrea’s 

22 border dispute with Ethiopia consistent with 

23 the arbitration decision of the Ethiopia-Eritrea 

24 Border Commission; 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
9 

•SRES 573 ATS 

1 (H) to explore, in consultation with the 

2 Secretary of the Treasury, increased options for 

3 pressuring individuals, governments, and other 

4 actors who undertake economic activities that 

5 support al Shabaab and other armed opposition 

6 groups in Somalia; and 

7 (I) to develop, in consultation with the Ad8 ministrator of the United States Agency for 

9 International Development, creative and flexible 

10 mechanisms for delivering basic humanitarian 

11 and development assistance to the people of So12 malia while minimizing the risk of significant 

13 diversion to armed opposition groups. 

Æ 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS