MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Somalia

13.9.2016 - (2016/2881(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Cristian Dan Preda, Tunne Kelam, Davor Ivo Stier, Mariya Gabriel, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Jarosław Wałęsa, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Ivan Štefanec, Eduard Kukan, Thomas Mann, Marijana Petir, Therese Comodini Cachia, Pavel Svoboda, Patricija Šulin, Roberta Metsola, Romana Tomc, Milan Zver, Claude Rolin, Sven Schulze, Jaromír Štětina, Giovanni La Via, József Nagy, Maurice Ponga, David McAllister, Michaela Šojdrová, Tomáš Zdechovský, Luděk Niedermayer, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Lefteris Christoforou, Adam Szejnfeld, Lorenzo Cesa, Csaba Sógor, Dubravka Šuica, Elisabetta Gardini, Anna Záborská, Eva Paunova, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Seán Kelly, Francisco José Millán Mon on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0989/2016

B8‑0993/2016

European Parliament resolution on Somalia

(2016/2881(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-having regards to its previous resolution on Somalia,

-having regards to the UN report on freedom of expression in Somalia released on the 4th of September 2016,

-having regards to the UN Security Council resolution 2297 (2016) adopted on the 7th July 2016,

-having regard to the UN Secretary General Report on Somalia to the UN Security Council of 9 May 2016 and 8 January 2016,

-having regards to the UN Human Rights Council Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, 13 April 2016,

-having regards to the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Somalia, Michael Keating condemnation of bombing of a hotel in Mogadishu on 30 of August 2016,

-having regards to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) call of 2 September 2016 for aid to counter use of Improvised Explosive Devices in Somalia,

-having regards to the AMISOM statement of 26.07.2016 condemning terror attacks in Mogadishu,

-having regards to the statement of the AU Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira of 30.08.2016 commended the Somali Security Forces in relation with the attack on a hotel in Mogadishu,

-having regards to the statements by the Spokesperson of the EEAS on the attacks in Somalia of 27.02.2016, 2.06.2016, 26.06.2016, 26.07.2016, 21.08.2016,

-having regards to the Council Conclusions on Somalia of 18.07.2016 and 15.02.2016,

-having regards to the EU strategy for security and development of the Sahel of September 2011,

-having regards to the statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the decision on an electoral model for Somalia in 2016,

-having regards to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the ACP and the EU,

-having regards to the Communication of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union at its 455th meeting of 2 September 2014 on the prevention and combating of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa,

-having regard to the mandate of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,

-having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas since 2012, when a new internationally-backed government was installed, Somalia has been inching towards stability, but the new authorities still face a challenge from Al-Qaeda-aligned Al-Shabab insurgents;

B. whereas the Islamist armed group Al-Shabaab commits abuses in areas it controls while targeting civilians in deadly attacks on hotels or in the vicinity of the Mogadishu International Airport in government-controlled areas;

C. whereas AMISOM, as a multidimensional Peace Support Operation, is mandated, among others, to: reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups, provide security in order to enable the political process at all levels, as well as stabilisation efforts, reconciliation and peacebuilding in Somalia, and enable the gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces contingent on abilities of the Somali security forces;

D. whereas although positive commitments and policy developments from the Somali government are observed, insecurity and political infighting continues to detract from concrete progress on justice and security sector reform;

E. whereas on the 23-24 February 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey, the third Somalia High Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) took place gathering representatives from more than 50 countries and 11 international organisations including the EU ; whereas the Forum called for the timely implementation of the electoral process and security sector reform, including the development of a new national security architecture;

F. whereas Somalia’s electoral process, which has begun in September 2016, has received backing from Somalis at home and in the diaspora;

G. whereas voting for the members of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament of Somalia will take place on 25 September 2016 while for the members of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia will take place between 24 September and 10 October 2016; whereas the President will be elected by both houses on the 30th October 2016;

H. whereas Omar Mohamed Abdulle, the chairperson of the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT), reconfirmed that the 2016 electoral process will be held on time, and that the electoral process would be transparent and credible;

I. whereas freedom of expression, which plays a central role in the building of democratic States, continues to be significantly limited; whereas according to a recent UN report on freedom of expression in Somalia shows the difficult environment that continues to confront journalists, human rights defenders and political leaders including killings, arrests, intimidation and closure of critical media outlets;

J. whereas according to the UN report, 120 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention of media workers between January 2014 and July 2016 can be identified; whereas since January 2015, only ten of the 48 journalists and media workers who have been arrested have been brought before a court;

K. whereas the EU provided through the European Development Fund €286 million (2014-2020) focusing on the implementation of the "Compact" and namely on state and peace building, food security, resilience and education; whereas the EU is also committed to support the AMISOM (the African Union peacekeeping force) through the Africa Peace Facility;

1. Expresses its deepest sympathy with the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Somalia and with their families and regrets deeply the loss of civilian lives; at the same time strongly condemns the perpetrators of those attacks, attributed to the Al-Shabaab insurgent group;

 

2. Calls for strengthening the national security architecture and the protection of civilians as well as additional support from the international community to AMISOM and the Government of Somalia in their work to build peace and stability;

 

3. Welcomes the government and regional leaders’ endorsement of a new National Security Policy calling on the government to accelerate its implementation in view of the remaining threat posed by Al-Shabaab;

 

4. Calls on the EU to remain strongly committed to cooperate with Somalia in building legitimate institutions and a Somali owned security sector to combat terrorism and provide protection for all people; stresses that this is key for Somalia's constructive development and the security of the region;

 

5. Highlights the encouraging progress towards more inclusive elections and accountable government since 2012; welcomes the attempt to rebuilding the State institutions and the adoption of important new laws - on political parties, and on the creation of an independent National Human Rights Commission; stresses the outmost importance of a credible, inclusive, transparent and accountable electoral process ensuring the necessary legitimacy for the elected leadership;

 

6. Urges the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia to undertake all actions in order to stop any attempts by the militant insurgent group Al Shabaab to disrupt the upcoming electoral process; underlines that securing the electoral process, should be the key priority;

 

7. Recalls that freedom of expression plays a central role in the building of democratic States, especially in times of political transformation; expresses its concerns on the limitation of this fundamental right in Somalia;

 

8. Welcomes the latest UN report on freedom of expression in Somalia describing progress in state-building, but is concern about the challenges being confronted by journalists, human rights defenders and political leaders; in this context condemns the numerous killings, arrests, intimidation and closures of critical media outlets, confiscation of equipment and blocking of websites;

 

9. Calls for urgent actions by Somali authorities to ensure that all violations of the right to freedom of expression, including the various serious attacks perpetrated against media workers, are fully investigated, and perpetrators brought to justice;

 

10. Urges authorities to adopt and implement appropriate legal frameworks and conduct necessary judicial reforms to respond to people's need for justice and protection, as impunity cannot be tolerated;

 

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, the President, the Prime Minister and the Parliament of Somalia, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the United Nations security Council and the Council of human rights of the United Nations and to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.