IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 859 
Expressing strong support for lasting peace, democracy, and economic 
recovery in Somalia. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 22, 2009 
Mr. PAYNE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing strong support for lasting peace, democracy, and 
economic recovery in Somalia. 
Whereas following the collapse of central authority in 
Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, rival Somali groups 
have engaged in armed struggle, committed serious atroc-
ities against innocent civilians, and obstructed the deliv-
ery of humanitarian assistance; 
Whereas more than 500,000 people died from violence, star-
vation, disease, and many more have been displaced from 
their homes over the past decade; 
Whereas in October 2002, the Inter-Governmental Authority 
for Development (IGAD) launched a peace process de-
signed to end factional fighting in Somalia, led by the 
Government of Kenya and in September 2003, the par-
ties agreed on a Transitional National Charter (TNC); 
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Whereas in June 2006, the forces of the Islamic Courts 
Union (ICU) took control of Mogadishu; 
Whereas during the 6-month rule by the ICU, Mogadishu be-
came relatively peaceful, but efforts to bring peace did 
not lead to sustained progress; 
Whereas on December 28, 2006, Ethiopian troops captured 
Mogadishu with little resistance from the ICU; 
Whereas the Ethiopian intervention led to more chaos and in-
stability in Somalia; 
Whereas humanitarian, political, and security conditions dete-
riorated across south-central Somalia; 
Whereas in the past 3 years, more than 22,000 civilians have 
been killed, an estimated 1,100,000 people displaced, and 
476,000 Somalis have fled to neighboring countries; 
Whereas in November 2008, the Ethiopian Government an-
nounced that its forces would pull out of Somalia by the 
end of 2008 and in January 2009, Ethiopian forces com-
pleted their withdrawal from Somalia; 
Whereas in June 2008, the Transitional Federal Government 
(TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia 
(ARS), a group dominated by members of the ICU, 
signed an agreement in Djibouti mediated by United Na-
tions Special Envoy Ahmedou Ould-Abdullah; 
Whereas the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), 
made up of peacekeeping troops from Uganda and Bu-
rundi, has done and continues to do remarkable work to 
secure a just peace in Somalia; 
Whereas, on September 17, 2009, the terrorist group Al- 
Shabaab carried out a suicide attack against AMISOM 
forces in Mogadishu, injuring and killing over 35 peace-
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keepers, including the Deputy Force Commander of 
AMISOM; 
Whereas in September 2009, United States Armed Forces 
killed Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, an al-Qaeda terrorist re-
sponsible for the suicide bombing in Mombasa in 2002 
and a suspect in the bombings of the United States em-
bassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and several other foreign 
terrorists in Mogadishu; 
Whereas in January 2009, the Somali Parliament elected the 
leader of the ARS, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad as 
President; 
Whereas in February 2009, President Ahmad appointed 
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke as Prime Minister; 
Whereas civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists, and 
human rights advocates have been the primary targets of 
the insurgent groups; 
Whereas a number of Somali journalists covering the crisis 
in Somalia have been assassinated by insurgents, while 
dozens of humanitarian and human rights advocates have 
been killed or injured; 
Whereas the terrorist group Al-Shabaab continues its terror 
campaign, with the support of al-Qaeda and other foreign 
jihadists; and 
Whereas the TFG continues to fight these terrorist and ex-
tremist groups and is committed to establishing a terror- 
free and democratic Somalia: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses strong support for the Transi-
tional Federal Government (TGF); 
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(2) commends the dedicated humanitarian and 
human rights workers and the sacrifices they con-
tinue to make to help the people of Somalia; 
(3) recognizes the valuable work and sacrifice of 
the African Union Peacekeeping Mission; 
(4) recognizes and commends the mediation ef-
forts of the Government of Djibouti and the United 
Nations Special Envoy Ahmedou Ould-Abdullah; 
(5) calls on the Obama Administration to pro-
vide assistance in education, health care, infrastruc-
ture, and security sectors to Somalia; 
(6) strongly urges the Obama Administration to 
support civil society, human rights groups, and the 
independent media to lay the foundation for a demo-
cratic and peaceful Somalia; 
(7) strongly recommends that the Obama Ad-
ministration appoint an ambassador and commence 
work on opening up a United States Embassy, once 
security conditions improve; 
(8) urges the Obama Administration to recog-
nize the TFG and allow the opening of an official 
Somali Embassy in Washington, DC; 
(9) calls on the Government of Somaliland to 
respect the rule of law and hold free and fair elec-
tions without further delay; and 
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(10) recommends that the governments of 
Puntland and Somaliland work together with the 
TFG to contain the threats posed by terrorist and 
extremist groups and work toward a mutually ac-
ceptable political arrangement. 
Æ 
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