PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 18TH MEETING

Date |25 OCTOBER, 2004ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

COMMUNIQUÉ

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union, at its eighteenth meeting, held on 25 October 2004, adopted the following Communiqué on the situation in Somalia:

Council,

1. Welcomes the election of H.E Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, as President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and calls upon all Somali parties, including the civil society to extend full support to the newly formed Somali Government and institutions;

2. Welcomes the pledge by the President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to promote a spirit of tolerance, and inclusiveness, and to work towards the consolidation of national unity and reconciliation;

3. Commends Kenya, the IGAD Facilitation Committee and the International Partners Forum (IPF) for their efforts and contribution to the process. Council further encourages the countries of the region to maintain their cohesion and unity of purpose to consolidate the gains made in the Reconciliation process;

4. Requests all AU Member States to extend political and financial support to the new Somali Government and institutions. Council further Urges Member States, particularly those of the region, to provide multi-sector support to the new Government and institutions of Somalia, mainly in the vital areas of capacity-building, including training of personnel in the fields of military, para-military and police for purposes of stabilisation of Somalia;

5. Requests the European Union, the League of Arab States, the United Nations and the rest of the international community to provide to the newly formed Somali Government and institutions all necessary support to ensure their functioning in Mogadishu and to assist in the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) programme and in the reconstruction of Somalia;

6. Requests the Commission, in conformity with the previous decisions of the AU relevant policy Organs, to accelerate preparations for the deployment of an AU Military Observer Mission in Somalia and submit to it, as soon as possible, for consideration and decision, a comprehensive plan on the deployment of such mission, including its size and mandate;

7. Takes note of the request made by the President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia for the enhancement of the security situation in Somalia as well as the proposal by the IGAD Ministerial Facilitation Committee to facilitate participation of Somalia in the activities of the African Union and requests the Commission to study those proposals and submit to it recommendations for its consideration;

8. Urges all concerned to desist from any action that would, in any form, tend to undermine the progress achieved in the reconciliation process. Council invites all Member States, in particular those of the region, to stand ready to take collective action against spoilers to ensure the advancement of reconciliation, peace and stability in Somalia.