Highlights of the major decisions of the PSC - February 2015
In February the PSC took decisions on the situations in Somalia and the DRC and discussed its recent joint mission to Mali.
Joint field mission to Mali sets a precedent
On 19 February 2015 the Peace and Security Council (PSC) adopted a decision on the joint field mission undertaken to Mali on 11–13 February 2015. The joint mission was carried out by the PSC and the European Union Political and Security Committee (EU-PSC).
The Council in its communiqué noted the importance of such joint exercises. It also urged further strengthening collaborative efforts through the continuation of joint field missions to conflict and post-conflict countries.
The Council, while acknowledging the challenges that the Malian government and people are facing, requested the African Union Commission’s (AUC) chairperson to urgently dispatch a technical mission to the country to make recommendations on how best the AU can further assist Mali with its efforts towards greater socio-economic development.
Political progress and security gains noted in Somalia
The situation in Somalia was on the PSC’s agenda for 20 February. The Council in its communiqué welcomed and applauded the political progress and security gains made so far. It also decided to undertake a field mission to Somalia at an appropriate time.
On the political front, the PSC noted the passing of the electoral act by Parliament, the endorsement of Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke’s cabinet and its inauguration, as well as the re-emergence of political parties. It called on the Somali leaders and people to ensure that the state-formation process is broad based, participatory and inclusive; envisioning national reconciliation towards credible elections in 2016 and a people-centred and nationally accepted constitution.
On the security front the PSC welcomed the recovery of key strategic locations from al-Shabaab as a result of joint military operations by the Somali National Army (SNA) and the AU Mission in Somalia, particularly operations Eagle and Indian Ocean. In order to consolidate and safeguard the security gains made on the ground, the PSC urged the Somali political leadership to accelerate its efforts towards the integration of the various militia forces under the unified national command of the SNA.
Towards the scrupulous and timely implementation of the DRC Framework agreement
To better assess the situation and the challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the PSC, in its communiqué of 23 February, decided to undertake a visit to the Great Lakes region at a date to be determined. The PSC stressed the importance of the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region (the Framework) by the signatories, as well as the important role of guarantors of the Framework in its implementation. While noting the continued insecurity created by negative forces in the eastern DRC, the Council reiterates the need for and urgency of the effective neutralisation of all the negative forces.
It condemned the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) for continuing its activities in disregard of the 2 January 2015 deadline set by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Intergovernmental Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to disarm and demobilise. The Council requested the AUC to urgently dispatch a mission to the DRC to help overcome the cessation in cooperation between the DRC government and the UN's Organisation stabilisation mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
The AUC chairperson is also requested to take steps to enhance the capacity of the AU Office for the Great Lakes Region. The PSC adapted the mandate of the office to focus on monitoring the overall situation in the region, supporting the implementation of the PSC Framework, and coordinating with the ICGLR, SADC, the UN, the EU and other bilateral and multilateral partners. The Council requested the AUC chairperson to submit quarterly reports on the evolution of the situation and follow up on the implementation of all its decisions related to the region.
