BY: Deeq S Yusuf For the upcoming UNGA summit, the President should focus on key priorities,…
BY: Deeq S Yusuf
For the upcoming UNGA summit, the President should focus on key priorities, including security, humanitarian crisis and development challenges.
With recent uptick of attacks by Alshabab, which is taking advantage of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the President should call upon the International Community to step up its efforts and support Somalia degrade and ultimately defeat Al-Shabab. As the ATMIS Mission is coming to a close in 2024, now is the time to significantly increase and build the capacity of the Somali National Army (SNA), Police Force and other security organs as Somalia prepares itself to take over national security duties from AU’s ATMIS forces.
On the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the worst in 40 years, IC support for Somalia falls far short of UN targets. This needs to change and therefore, the President should make a renewed appeal to the IC and donor countries to do more by urgently addressing and coming to the aid of Somalia with thousands of drought affected population now at risk of starvation amid an ongoing conflict and climate induced humanitarian disaster that has now reached famine conditions. The situation on the ground is worsened by the current global crisis stemming from rising food and fuel prices in which Somalia is the worst hit country in the region. Already a million people and counting have been displaced by the drought.
Moreover, Somalia’s development challenges remain daunting and IC should do more to assist in the realization of the country’s development goals. Key areas of concern include agriculture and food security, education and healthcare, provision of clean and safe water, clean energy, public infrastructure as well as women and youth empowerment.
The recent elections and peaceful handover of power demonstrates Somalia’s nascent democracy has come a long way. IC should continue to support Somalia’s democratic institutions as the country now moves forward to complete the constitutional process with the expected return to universal suffrage by next election cycle.
The President should reiterate his vision of Somalia at Peace with Itself and at Peace with the World as it moves to take its rightful place in the global community, reconnecting and building stronger relations with international institutions and all countries of the world.
The President should also highlight climate change and its adverse effects such as Somalia’s current drought, which comes on the back of climate induced, 5 consecutive failed rainy seasons and recurring droughts over the last decade.
Given Somalia’s unique challenges, the President should call for climate action solutions that prioritize peace, security and development in addition to supporting emission targets, and other climate initiatives. More importantly, the President should call for expanded climate finance for post-conflict states like Somalia. Climate change remains a priority for Somalia and this is underscored by HSM’s timely decision to establish a specific ministry dedicated to climate change – The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
On international relations, the President should affirm his support for international cooperation and multilateralism as means of resolving today’s global challenges, including conflict, poverty, underdevelopment, gender inequality, terrorism, humanitarian disasters, the climate crisis and more.
BY: Deeq S Yusuf
Mogadishu -Somalia
