Political and Civil Affairs work at UNPOS

Political Affairs Section

The mandate of UNPOS derives from UN Security Council Resolutions 191018721863, and 1814 and relevant directives of the Policy Committee.

As the major substantive component of UNPOS, the Political Affairs Section (PAS) undertakes the following tasks:

  • Advise and support the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia on issues relating to the promotion of national reconciliation in Somalia; good offices and political process; capacity building of local counterparts;
  • Provide strategic and policy advice on matters of security, peacebuilding and statebuilding, including a substantially strengthened security and rule of law capacity, and support to coordination in these areas;
  • Support the SRSG in his efforts to mobilise resources and support from the international community for both the immediate recovery and long-term economic development of Somalia. This involves, among other things, organising conferences and meetings with international and regional partners;
  • Prepare background and briefing materials for the SRSG, other senior managers of UNPOS and for the Department of Political Affairs in New York, for use in their consultations with partners. This includes the preparation and consolidation of the quarterly progress report of the Secretary-General for Somalia;
  • Oversee reporting arrangements for UNPOS to UNHQs, which includes the daily and bi-weekly situation reports, as well as Code Cables and papers that are prepared from time to time and occasionally shared with the partners;
  • Support the SRSG in his efforts to develop a coherent and integrated approach towards all activities of the United Nations system in Somalia.

The priority areas for the Political Affairs Section (PAS) in 2013 and onwards are:

a)  Internal cohesion of the Somali Federal Institutions - Establish mechanisms/structures that will enhance coordination and leadership among the federal institutions:

  • PAS holds Regular consultation between UNPOS Senior leadership and the top leadership of the Somali Federal Government;
  • PAS facilitates a monthly forum for the special advisers from the three offices (Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and the Speaker);
  • In this regard, PAS fosters partnership with UNDP, DFID, Turkey, IGAD, P3+.

 b)  Establishment of Local Governance Structures - Support the formation of local administration in line with Government policy:

  • PAS supports the Government in convening consultative meetings at the local level;
  • PAS supports Government mediation efforts with local leaders/ communities, including with those outside the process;
  • PAS works with the Technical Committee for Baidoa for the purpose of establishing Local Administrations, including strengthening the role of women in local administration;
  • PAS engages the Somali Government and IGAD in advancing issues related to the establishment of the local administrations;
  • In this regard, PAS fosters partnership with IGAD, the AU/AMISOM, P3, EU, P3+.

c)  Parliamentary Agenda - Engage all stakeholders and the Parliament in the review of the constitution and provide assistance towards the establishment of the six constitutional commissions:

  • PAS supports Parliament in facilitating national dialogue with relevant stakeholders;
  • PAS provides technical advice to Parliament on type, legal framework and implementation of federalism;
  • PAS facilitates dialogues with regional and national entities on the constitutional review process;
  • PAS provides technical assistance to the Parliamentary review process and in drafting the legislation for the establishment of the six constitutional commissions;
  • In this regard, PAS fosters partnership with the EU, IGAD, UNDP, Somali Federal Government, Parliament, Civil Society Organisations and the National Democratic Institute.

Guiding the work of UNPOS Political Affairs Section are the following:

  • Djibouti Agreement, 19 August 2008 
  • Kampala Accord, 09 June 2011
  • Garowe Constitutional conference, December 2011
  • Garowe II Principles, February 2012
  • Galkayo Communiqué, 26 March 2012
  • Addis Communiqué, 23 May 2012
  • Joint communiqué on the process for Ending the Transition, June 2012
  • Protocol Establishing the Somali National Constituent Assembly, June 2012
  • Protocol Establishing the Somali New Federal Parliament, June 2012
  • Protocol Establishing the Signatories Technical Facilitation Committee, June 2012
  • Protocol Establishing the Technical Selection Committee, June 2012
  • Presidential Decree on transition to a New Federal Government for the Somali Republic Provisional Constitution, August 2012
  • Foundations of New Beginning – The Six Pillars Policy, September 2012

Additional UN documentation that guides the UNPOS PAS Mandate:

  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2013/69] of 31 January 2013
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2012/643] of 22 August 2012
  • Special Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2012/283] of 1 May 2012
  • Special Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2012/74] of 31 January 2012
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the Political, Security and Humanitarian Situation in Somalia [S/2011/759] of 9 December 2011
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2011/549] of 30 August 2011
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2011/277] of 28 April 2011
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2010/675] of 30 December 2010
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1897(2009) [S/2010/556] of 27 October 2010
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2010/447] of 9 September 2010
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2010/234] of 11 May 2010
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1872(2009)[S/2009/503] of 2 October 2009
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2009/373] of 21 July 2009
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1846(2008)[S/2009/146] of 16 March 2009
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia [S/2009/132] of 9 March 2009

 

Civil Affairs Unit

The Civil Affairs Unit came into existence in May 2009, to support the reconciliation process, as well as election issues as they relate to the emerging political dynamics in Somalia.

Whilst focusing on the formal role of supporting the peace and reconciliation process as articulated in UN Security Council Resolution 1744, the Unit has collaborated with various civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional and religious elders, the diaspora and the business community to advance the peace process. This strategy contributed to ending the mandate of the Transitional Federal Government in August 2012 and ushered in the New Federal Government.

With the new Federal Government in office, the unit is supporting plans to bring together representatives of Religious Leaders, Traditional elders, the Diaspora, Youths, Women Organisations,CSOs, the Academia and the Local Administrations, representing the five major clans in 31 districts of Southern Somalia, for them to brainstorm and articulate their vision for peace building and reconciliation, as well as agree on modalities for setting up local government structures in the recovered areas.