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, and Mr. FRANKEN) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Relations 

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 

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 


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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 

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; 


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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, including al Shabaab, 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, primarily from Yemen and 

Ethiopia; 


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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 24, 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 

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 


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return to the United States and launch attacks against 

the Homeland remains of significant concern’’; 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 

12 Somalia (AMISOM) to help secure parts of 

13 Mogadishu, and reaffirms its support for the mis14 sion; 

15 (4) calls on the Transitional Federal Govern16 ment in Somalia— 

17 (A) to cease immediately any use of child 

18 soldiers; 

19 (B) to ensure better accountability and 

20 transparency for all received security assistance; 


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1 (C) to renew its commitment to political 

2 reconciliation; and 

3 (D) to take necessary steps toward becom4 ing a more legitimate and inclusive government 

5 in the eyes of the people of Somalia; 

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

7 region, particularly the Government of Eritrea, to 

8 play a productive role in helping to bring about 

9 peace and stability to Somalia, including ceasing to 

10 provide any financial or material support to armed 

11 opposition groups in Somalia; 

12 (6) welcomes efforts by the President to bring 

13 greater focus and resources toward understanding 

14 and monitoring the situation in Somalia; 

15 (7) urges the President to develop a comprehen16 sive strategy to ensure that all United States hu17 manitarian, diplomatic, political, and counterter18 rorism programs in Somalia and the wider Horn of 

19 Africa are coordinated and making progress toward 

20 the long-term goal of establishing stability, respect 

21 for human rights, and functional, inclusive govern22 ance in Somalia; 

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

24 as part of a comprehensive strategy— 


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1 (A) to provide greater support for a range 

2 of diplomatic initiatives to engage clan leaders, 

3 business leaders, and civil society leaders in So4 malia and the Somali Diaspora in political rec5 onciliation and consensus-building; 

6 (B) to ensure better oversight, monitoring, 

7 and transparency of all United States security 

8 assistance provided to the TFG; 

9 (C) to increase and strengthen the United 

10 States diplomatic team working on Somalia, in11 cluding the appointment of a senior envoy, and 

12 to ensure that these officials have the necessary 

13 resources, access, and mandate; 

14 (D) to pursue opportunities for periodic, 

15 temporary United States Government travel to 

16 Somalia, consistent with any security concerns; 

17 (E) to expand and deepen our engagement 

18 with the regions of Somaliland and Puntland 

19 and other regional administrations in order to 

20 promote good governance, effective law enforce21 ment, respect for human rights, and stability in 

22 these regions; 

23 (F) to explore, in consultation with the 

24 Secretary of the Treasury, increased options for 

25 pressuring individuals, governments, and other 


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1 actors who undertake economic activities that 

2 support armed opposition groups and violence 

3 in Somalia; and 

4 (G) to develop, in consultation with the 

5 Administrator of the United States Agency for 

6 International Development, creative and flexible 

7 mechanisms for delivering basic humanitarian 

8 assistance to the people of Somalia while mini9 mizing the risk of significant diversion to armed 

10 opposition groups. 

Æ 


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