III 

Calendar No. 588 

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] 

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 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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 21:02 Sep 24, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR573.RS SR573

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•SRES 573 RS 

cluding 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; 

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 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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’’; 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 

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 

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 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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; 

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; 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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 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’’; 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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 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 al-Qaeda 

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 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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; 

21 (C) to renew its commitment to political 

22 reconciliation; and 


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•SRES 573 RS 

1 (D) to take necessary steps toward becom2 ing a more legitimate and inclusive government 

3 in the eyes of the people of Somalia; 

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

5 region, particularly the Government of Eritrea, to 

6 play a productive role in helping to bring about 

7 peace and stability to Somalia, including ceasing to 

8 provide any financial or material support to armed 

9 opposition groups in Somalia; 

10 (6) welcomes efforts by the President to bring 

11 greater focus and resources toward understanding 

12 and monitoring the situation in Somalia; 

13 (7) urges the President to develop a comprehen14 sive strategy to ensure that all United States hu15 manitarian, diplomatic, political, and counterter16 rorism programs in Somalia and the wider Horn of 

17 Africa are coordinated and making progress toward 

18 the long-term goal of establishing stability, respect 

19 for human rights, and functional, inclusive govern20 ance in Somalia; 

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

22 as part of a comprehensive strategy— 

23 (A) to provide greater support for a range 

24 of diplomatic initiatives to engage clan leaders, 

25 business leaders, and civil society leaders in SoVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:02 Sep 24, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\SR573.RS SR573

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•SRES 573 RS 

1 malia and the Somali Diaspora in political rec2 onciliation and consensus-building; 

3 (B) to ensure better oversight, monitoring, 

4 and transparency of all United States security 

5 assistance provided to the TFG; 

6 (C) to increase and strengthen the United 

7 States diplomatic team working on Somalia, in8 cluding the appointment of a senior envoy, and 

9 to ensure that these officials have the necessary 

10 resources, access, and mandate; 

11 (D) to pursue opportunities for periodic, 

12 temporary United States Government travel to 

13 Somalia, consistent with any security concerns; 

14 (E) to expand and deepen our engagement 

15 with the regions of Somaliland and Puntland 

16 and other regional administrations in order to 

17 promote good governance, effective law enforce18 ment, respect for human rights, and stability in 

19 these regions; 

20 (F) to explore, in consultation with the 

21 Secretary of the Treasury, increased options for 

22 pressuring individuals, governments, and other 

23 actors who undertake economic activities that 

24 support armed opposition groups and violence 

25 in Somalia; and 


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•SRES 573 RS 

1 (G) to develop, in consultation with the 

2 Administrator of the United States Agency for 

3 International Development, creative and flexible 

4 mechanisms for delivering basic humanitarian 

5 assistance to the people of Somalia while mini6 mizing the risk of significant diversion to armed 

7 opposition groups. 

8 That the Senate— 

9 (1) acknowledges the urgency of addressing the 

10 threats to United States national security in Somalia 

11 and the conditions that foster those threats; 

12 (2) reaffirms its commitment to stand with all 

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

14 terrorism and violence through advancing political 

15 reconciliation and building legitimate and inclusive 

16 governance institutions; 

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

18 work being done by the African Union Mission in So19 malia (AMISOM) to help secure parts of Mogadishu, 

20 and reaffirms its support for the mission; 

21 (4) calls on the Transitional Federal Government 

22 in Somalia— 

23 (A) to cease immediately any use of child 

24 soldiers; 


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•SRES 573 RS 

1 (B) to ensure better accountability and 

2 transparency for all received security assistance; 

3 (C) to renew its commitment to political 

4 reconciliation; and 

5 (D) to take necessary steps toward becoming 

6 a more legitimate and inclusive government in 

7 the eyes of the people of Somalia; 

8 (5) calls on all actors and governments in the re9 gion, particularly the Government of Eritrea, to play 

10 a productive role in helping to bring about peace and 

11 stability to Somalia, including ceasing to provide any 

12 financial or material support to al Shabaab and 

13 other armed opposition groups in Somalia; 

14 (6) welcomes efforts by the President to bring 

15 greater focus and resources toward understanding and 

16 monitoring the situation in Somalia; 

17 (7) urges the President to develop a comprehen18 sive strategy to ensure that all United States humani19 tarian, diplomatic, political, and counterterrorism 

20 programs in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa 

21 are coordinated and making progress toward the long22 term goal of establishing stability, respect for human 

23 rights, and functional, inclusive governance in Soma24 lia; 


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•SRES 573 RS 

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

2 as part of a comprehensive strategy— 

3 (A) to provide greater support for a range 

4 of diplomatic initiatives to engage clan leaders, 

5 business leaders, and civil society leaders in So6 malia and the Somali Diaspora in political rec7 onciliation and consensus-building; 

8 (B) to ensure better oversight, monitoring, 

9 and transparency of all United States security 

10 assistance provided to the TFG; 

11 (C) to increase and strengthen the United 

12 States diplomatic team working on Somalia, in13 cluding the appointment of a senior envoy, and 

14 to ensure that these officials have the necessary 

15 resources, access, and mandate; 

16 (D) to pursue opportunities for periodic, 

17 temporary United States Government travel to 

18 Somalia, consistent with any security concerns; 

19 (E) to expand and deepen our engagement 

20 with the regional administration of Puntland 

21 and other regional administrations in order to 

22 promote good governance, effective law enforce23 ment, respect for human rights, and stability in 

24 these regions; 


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•SRES 573 RS 

1 (F) to provide additional humanitarian, de2 velopment, and security assistance to the region 

3 of Somaliland, recognizing the positive develop4 ments in that region with respect to consoli5 dating multi-party democracy, which was evi6 dent in the recent election there; 

7 (G) to outline punitive measures and incen8 tives that can be used with the Government of 

9 Eritrea to bring a halt to its financial and ma10 terial support for armed opposition groups in 

11 Somalia, including steps to improve bilateral re12 lations and to push for a resolution of Eritrea’s 

13 border dispute with Ethiopia consistent with the 

14 arbitration decision of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Bor15 der Commission; 

16 (H) to explore, in consultation with the Sec17 retary of the Treasury, increased options for 

18 pressuring individuals, governments, and other 

19 actors who undertake economic activities that 

20 support al Shabaab and other armed opposition 

21 groups in Somalia; and 

22 (I) to develop, in consultation with the Ad23 ministrator of the United States Agency for 

24 International Development, creative and flexible 

25 mechanisms for delivering basic humanitarian 


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•SRES 573 RS 

1 and development assistance to the people of So2 malia while minimizing the risk of significant 

3 diversion to armed opposition groups. 


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Calendar No. 588 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 573 

RESOLUTION 

Urging the development of a comprehensive stratpurposes. egy to ensure stability in Somalia, and for other 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 

Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the 

preamble 


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