Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2007
42 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s policy on the ongoing conflict in Somalia; the Government’s official response to US air strikes on Somalia in January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4276/07]
View answer82 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the views he has expressed to the US authorities arising from their recent military intervention in Somalia. [4335/07]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 82 together.
Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991. A Transitional Federal Government (TFG) representing a range of clans was established in Nairobi with UN approval and EU support in 2004, but it was unable to make a significant impact on the ground. Discontent with a decade of anarchy led to increased support for the United Islamic Courts (UIC), which enforced sharia law in large parts of southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, from mid-2006.
Islamic extremists gained the upper hand over moderates in the UIC, and threatened a jihad against Ethiopia. In late December 2006, a joint operation by the Transitional Federal Government and Ethiopian troops led to the collapse of the UIC.
In January 2007, Ethiopia began to withdraw its troops from Somalia, and on 19 January the African Union decided to send a peace support force (AMISOM) to the country for an initial period of six months. Its mandate will be to support the TFG, facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid and help to create conditions conducive to long-term stabilization, reconstruction and development in Somalia.
The situation in Somalia is high on the EU agenda. It was discussed at the European Council on 14-15 December 2006, and again by EU Foreign Ministers on 22 January. The Council concluded that ‘The EU believes that a window of opportunity exists for a sustainable solution to Somalia's difficulties.'
The EU supports the African Union's decision to send a force to replace Ethiopian troops in Somalia, but has also stressed that for the force to be effective in sustaining peace, a national reconciliation process should start in parallel. EU Foreign Ministers placed great emphasis on the need for dialogue between the Transitional Federal Government and a wide range of other groups, including clan elders, Islamic leaders, business people, civil society and women. They also expressed the EU's readiness to support AMISOM financially, provided the right conditions are in place. In the longer term, the question of what role the UN can play in Somalia will have to be considered. On 2 February, the UN Security Council asked that a UN technical mission be sent to Somalia to assess security and to report on the prospects for peace.
In all discussions on Somalia, Ireland has also laid particular emphasis on the need for inclusive dialogue which reaches out to moderate Islamists as a basis for a future stability. The Government gave over €5 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia and funding to Irish NGOs working in the country in 2006. This was a major increase on recent years, due both to severe drought and flooding, and to growing concern at the security situation and its humanitarian consequences. So far in 2007, we have committed €3.1 million in humanitarian funding to the UN Consolidated Appeal for Somalia.
The United States carried out two aerial attacks in the extreme south of Somalia in January 2007, targeting suspected al-Qaeda members, who the US alleged may have been responsible for bombings of US Embassies which resulted in significant loss of life in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. The full details of the effect of the US bombings on the ground are not clear, although the loss of life is greatly to be regretted. Supporting a swift return to peace, stability and the rule of law in Somalia is the best way to prevent the country from becoming further destabilised and a haven for terrorism. I have not had any discussions with the US authorities to date on this issue.
The next General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 February will continue discussions on how the EU can best support stability and development in Somalia.
