Sunday October 8, 2017
Michael Keating, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia and Mahdi Mohamed Guled, the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, during the launch of Strand Four of the Comprehensive Approach to Security on Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism in Mogadishu, Somalia on October 7, 2017. UN Photo / Omar Abdisalan
Mogadishu, 8 October 2017 - Somali federal and state authorities,
together with the international community, agreed on a support and
coordination mechanism to put in operation the national strategy to
prevent and counter violent extremism.
The strategy – also
referred to as ‘Strand 4’ – is part of the National Security
Architecture (NSA), which was endorsed by Somalia’s President Mohamed
Abdullahi Farmaajo and the presidents of the federal member states last
April.
The NSA, through the Comprehensive Approach to Security
Strand 4, aims to tackle violent extremism and address wide ranging
issues causing conflict and insecurity in Somalia.
The strategy
was launched in Mogadishu at an event co-chaired by the Somali Deputy
Prime Minister, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, and the Swedish Ambassador to
Somalia, Andreas von Uexküll.
The meeting was also attended by
top Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) officials, representatives of
federal member states, UN officials – including the Special
Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Michael
Keating – and members of the diplomatic corps.
Mr. Guled hailed
the launch as a milestone in the country’s efforts to prevent and
counter violent extremism in order to help attain a sustainable peace
for the country.
“We came together today to launch strand 4 of
the Comprehensive Approach to Security. We are thankful to the UK
government for organizing the famous London Conference which was
successful and provided a platform for Somalia to present a number of
issues including the Comprehensive Approach to Security and its
strands,” Mr. Guled stated at the event.
Strand 4 is co-chaired
by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Swedish Embassy. Its
objective is for conflicts to be addressed politically, as opposed to
through violence.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Swedish
Ambassador signed the terms of reference spelling out the roles,
responsibilities, managerial and operational procedures of Strand 4,
elements that are crucial to put in operation the Somali National
Strategy and Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism,
launched in September 2016.
Ambassador von Uexküll observed that
violent extremism is widespread, affecting not only Somalia but also
many other countries and called for concerted efforts in tackling this
phenomenon.
Preventing and countering violent extremism boosted with Somalia security agreement from UNSOM on Vimeo.
“Coordination among various stakeholders as well as
ensuring that we are not working in silos will be crucial. We also need
to connect our work on human rights, security, rule of law and justice.
Sustainable solutions can only be achieved if we address our efforts for
youth, inclusion and economic recovery,” he added.
On his part,
Mr. Keating lauded the launch while emphasizing the need to address the
drivers of violent extremism and calling for a multi-pronged approach to
effectively tackle insecurity.
“Insecurity requires a genuinely
comprehensive approach and where addressing violent extremism is the
long term effort that needs to be part of that comprehensive approach.
If we only focus on the military aspect on insecurity we will not
succeed. I am just thrilled that we have come together to look at how
prevention and countering of violent extremism can help address some of
these issues,” the SRSG said.
It was also agreed at the meeting
that key government agencies and federal member states appoint focal
point persons to drive the process and come up with a plan of action
ahead of the follow-up meeting to the London Conference, scheduled for
December.