MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Terrorist attacks in Somalia
14.11.2017 - (2017/2962(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Hilde Vautmans, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Nedzhmi Ali, Petras Auštrevičius, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Dita Charanzová, Gérard Deprez, Martina Dlabajová, Fredrick Federley, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Filiz Hyusmenova, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Patricia Lalonde, Louis Michel, Javier Nart, Urmas Paet, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Frédérique Ries, Robert Rochefort, Jasenko Selimovic, Pavel Telička, Ivo Vajgl, Marietje Schaake, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Cecilia Wikström, Valentinas Mazuronis on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0600/2017
The European Parliament,
¾having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations,
¾having regard to the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/68/276 of 13 June 2014 on the UN Counter-terrorism Strategy,
¾having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Report on the situation of human rights in Somalia 36/62,
¾having regard to the statement of the president of the UN Security Council of 9 August 2017 on terrorist attacks and the need for humanitarian aid in some terror affected areas such as Somalia,
¾having regard to Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,
¾having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,
¾having regard to the African Union’s Special Representative condemnation to the terrorist attacks in Somalia of 28 October 2017, and the African Union’s Special Representative calls for urgent support for Somalia,
¾having 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,
¾having regard to the Organisation of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, adopted in 1999,
¾having regard to the statements by the EEAS Spokesperson on the attacks in Somalia of 19 February 2017, 20 June 2017, 31 July 2017, 30 October 2017,
¾having regard to the EU strategy for security and development of the Sahel of September 2011,
¾having regard to the Civil Society Strategy for Somalia of March 2012,
¾having regard to the Council conclusions on Somalia of 18 July 2016,
¾having regard to the resolution of the European Parliament of 15 September 2016,
¾having regard to the resolution of the European Parliament on the Dabaab refugee camp, of 15 May 2017,
¾having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A.Whereas more than 300 people are believed to have been killed, and hundreds more seriously injured, in an Al-Shabaab terrorist attack in Mogadishu the 14 October 2017; whereas this attack involved a truck filled with several hundred kilograms of military-grade and home-produced explosives and made the scale of the loss one of the most lethal terrorist acts anywhere in the world for many years;
B.Whereas over 30 people were killed the 28 October 2017 when two car bombs detonated outside a hotel near Somalia's presidential palace in Mogadishu; whereas one of these bomb cars discharged outside the Nasa Hablod Two Hotel, close to the Villa Somalia presidential palace, and was followed by a second explosion in the same area instants later, followed by a firefight that resulted in at least three armed militants;
C.Whereas in less than a year there were over twenty bomb attacks in Mogadishu, where leaving hundreds of people dead and more than thousands injured;
D.Whereas the terrorist group Al-Shabab earlier in 2017 vowed to increase its attacks after both the US Administration and Somalia’s recently elected president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo’, publicised new military efforts against the group;
E. Whereas the president of the UN Security Council has expressed his concern about the unprecedented degree of global humanitarian necessities and the famine threat presently in Somalia, among other African countries;
F.Whereas Somalia is a conflict-affected state where some parties have failed to ensure sustained access for deliveries of vital food assistance as well as other forms of humanitarian aid to common citizens;
G.Whereas following terrorist attacks Somalis volunteered in order to help their fellow citizens who were victim of the attacks;
H.Whereas the EU provided immediate support in the aftermath of the attacks; initial humanitarian aid has been mobilised for rapidly increasing medical needs and two ships of the EU Naval Operation ATALANTA and EU flights have been delivering emergency medical supplies for Mogadishu hospitals;
I.Whereas despite the significant improvements in the human rights situation in Somalia in terms of governance and the peacebuilding process, the armed opposition group Al-Shabaab is still seen as a continuing threat; whereas terrorist attacks weaken and reverse the gains made to date in the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
J.Whereas the election of Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmajo’ as President in February 2017 completed a peaceful transition of power, witnessing the peacebuilding intents to consolidate State institutions in the country;
K.Whereas the Somalian government still faces numerous challenges such as corruption and lack of widespread support from civilians, which inevitably leads to a lack of trust in state institutions and subsequent support drifting to radical Islam and terrorist groups;
L.Whereas the governments repression of internally displaced persons can only lead to even more radicalisation of individuals that will play directly in the hands of terrorist;
M.Whereas the engagement of the international community with Somalia continued through missions and through the summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development held in Mogadishu in September 2016;
N. Whereas the three-year drought has caused a humanitarian crisis affecting more than half the population and decimating about 60 per cent of livestock, which has brought economic hardship to the population;
O. Whereas drought, clan conflict, the fighting with Al-Shabab and clan militia, and forced evictions, have resulted in hundreds of thousands displaced persons since the end of 2016;
1.Strongly condemns the perpetrators of these attacks, attributed to the Al-Shabab insurgent group;
2. Expresses its deepest compassion with the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Somalia and with their families, regretting deeply the loss of lives;
3. Condemns the continued recruitment and use of children as fighters, particularly by Al-Shabab; Calls on the Somali Government to ensure that children formerly associated with Al-Shabab are promptly supported and that detention is a measure of last resort;
4. Highlights that security is a precondition for development and calls on the government to step up its efforts in the fight against terrorism and radicalisation;
5.Recalls that lasting stability and peace may only be realised through social inclusion, sustainable development and good governance based on the democratic principles and rule of law in which peoples’ dignity and rights are fully respected, notwithstanding sufficient degrees of transparency and accountability; Calls therefore on the Somali Government to further increase state-building efforts, improve civilian protection, respect human rights and tackle impunity;
6. Invites the Somali people to their leadership to enhance their efforts to work together in the fight against terrorism and to increase security, taking the streets and demanding unity of purpose and statesmanship to guide Somalia out of the current political and security instability;
7. Welcomes solidarity from Somalis rescuing fellow citizens trapped in the midst of the ruins, or bringing the injured to the closest hospitals, or even donating blood or helping to organise funerals, which is a display of an enduring and constructive Somali civil society that wants to endure even when the country can be torn apart by terrorism;
8. Calls on all parties to allow for safe, opportune and unconstrained access for humanitarian assistance to all areas and to enable access for indispensable imports of food, fuel and medical supplies into and their distribution throughout Somalia;
9. Believes that the Somalian government should learn from its recent "failed state" experience and engage in an active fight on terrorism and radicalisation, without which the currently perceived fragile stability cannot last.
10. Recalls that the attacks cannot deter important achievements over recent years in the country and the need for the President, the federal government and the federal member states to work together in fights against terrorism and to increase security and development for the people;
11. Expresses the need for an all-inclusive dialogue between the country’s social sectors, including the clans and tribes that compose the Somalian nation, to allow for mutual understanding and to establish a consensus for a long-lasting and stable peace;
12.Demands to strengthen the Somali national security architecture and protection of the population, as well as for additional aid from the international community to AMISOM and the Government of Somalia in their work to build peace and stability;
13.Reaffirms the EU’s strong and long-standing commitment to support Somalia and its people;
14.Calls on the international community to remain strongly engaged; recalls that terrorism is a common threat that must be tackled in partnership;
15.Calls on all parties and the international community to do their utmost to avoid harming civilians when taking military action;
16.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 of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the President of the Parliament of Somalia, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council, and the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.