2007 PRESS RELEASES

International Contact Group on Somalia London Meeting: Communiqué

June 7, 2007

The International Contact Group on Somalia met in London on 6 June to discuss mechanisms for advancing the political process and stabilizing the security situation in Somalia.

Despite the recent improvement in the security situation, the Contact Group expresses its serious concern at the continued sporadic violence in Mogadishu and the deaths and injuries caused by it. The Contact Group condemns the recent attack on Prime Minister Gedi and calls on all parties to agree immediately on a formal and sustainable cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians. The Contact Group strongly condemns actions of extremists and terrorists and those looking to undermine the political and reconciliation process, and calls on the international community to do everything it can to prevent further attacks.

The Contact Group agrees to continue to work with all parties to ensure that all humanitarian needs of the Somali people are addressed.  The Contact Group calls on the TFG and all parties to provide free and unhindered humanitarian access. 

The Contact Group is committed to help bring about a safe and stable environment for the political transition and reconciliation process.

The Contact Group congratulates AMISOM for the work it is doing in Mogadishu and encourages further immediate support, including from non-traditional donors. The Contact Group looks forward to receiving UN plans for a follow-on UN mission, and encourages urgent consideration of funding mechanisms for AMISOM.

The Contact Group believes that the National Reconciliation Congress is the primary vehicle to demonstrate an inclusive approach to governance, help deliver security for the Transitional Government and the people of Somalia, and advance political reconciliation.  The Contact Group believes that, as laid out in the Transitional Federal Government’s Road Map, one of the outcomes of the Reconciliation Congress should be a fair and equitable representation in the Transitional Federal Institutions and that a comprehensive and meaningful political process continues as outlined in the Transitional Federal Charter.

The Contact Group welcomes, therefore, the assurances given by the Transitional Federal Government that the Reconciliation Congress will be fully inclusive and that no clan or sub clan, or individual members of them who renounce violence and are selected by their clans, are excluded from the reconciliation process; that participation will be determined by the relevant groups without interference; that a process leading to permanent peace and stability in Somalia will be agreed upon; that the Transitional Federal Institutions will respect and implement the outcomes of the Reconciliation Congress in accordance with the terms of the Transitional Federal Charter. The Contact Group urges that the Reconciliation Congress should lead to a process of genuine political reconciliation. In this regard, the Contact Group agrees to fund the Congress. The Contact Group noted the Transitional Federal Government’s request for assistance in isolating those elements seeking to undermine the political process through acts of violence.  The Contact Group is committed to the right of democratic rights of expression.

The Contact Group agreed on the following action points: that it would encourage the Transitional Federal Government and other Somali stakeholder groups to communicate with each other, including by volunteering ICG ‘Good Offices’ to further dialogue; encourage further support for deployment of AMISOM, including support from non-traditional donors and review and enhance the financing mechanism of AMISOM; support the formulation, implementation and verification of a Somali-agreed cease fire arrangement, including by urgently convening a technical working group to identify the critical steps required and the benchmarks of progress; assist Somali stakeholders in developing an appropriate over-arching security sector strategy that is linked to a political process through the NSSP, revised if necessary
 
Agreed in London on 6 June 2007