JOINT COMMUNIQUE

JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED BY THE EXTRA-ORDINARY SESSION OF IGAD COUNCIL OF MINISTERS’ MEETING ON THE SOMALI RECONCILIATION PROCESS HELD IN NAIROBI ON TUESDAY, 13 TH JUNE, 2006

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The Extra-ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers’ Meeting held its meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on 13th June 2006.

Hon. Raphael Tuju, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya and the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers opened the meeting.

The Meeting was addressed by H.E. Mohamed Ali Gedi, Prime Minister for Somalia and Louis Michell, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.

The meeting was attended by;

H.E. Seyoum Mesfin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

H.E. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia,

Hon. Isaac Musumba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Regional Cooperation of the Republic of Uganda,

H.E. Elsamani Elwasila, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan,

Ambassador Ghirmai Gherbremariam, State of Eritrea,

Ambassador Mohamed Siad Doualeh, Special Envoy of the Republic of Djibouti to Somalia,

Ambassador Mohamed Foum, Special Envoy of the African Union to Somalia,

Ambassador Francois Fall, United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for Somalia,

Ambassador Salim Ali Khusabi, Representative of the League of Arab States,

Dr. Attala Hamed Bashir, Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development.

The following countries sent observers to the meeting; China, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Norway and Sweden;

The Council:

Received an update on the current situation in Somalia particularly with regard to the recent fighting in and around Mogadishu between Islamic Courts union led militias and Warlords.

Regret the loss of life during the recent fighting in and around Mogadishu and appreciates all humanitarian aid provided to alleviate the sufferings of those affected by the fighting.

Encourages and supports the TFG to pursueconstructive dialogue with all those who recognize the Transitional Federal Institutions and its Charter and that IGAD express its readiness to support constructive dialogue in Somalia.

Noted that the fighting threatens to spread to other areas such as Jowhar

Agreed;

To catalogue of all those involved in illegal use of arms to terrorize and harm innocent civilians and in this regard recommends that those involved in these activities should be subjected to the legal international process for prosecution for crimes against humanity.

That amnesty be given to those who may have been involved in the past in these illegal activities, who now agree to surrender and follow the path of dialogue with the internationally recognized TFG, which is the legitimate authority for Somalia. Further agreed to grant safe passage to those who accept this regional amnesty.

That IGAD Member States will apply the same sanctions against all Warlords as has been applied by Kenya including travel ban and freezing of accounts except for free passage which may be extended to those Warlords who will have surrendered and subjected themselves to dialogue with the TFG.

Noted that the AU Resolutions gave IGAD the mandate to deploy Peace support Mission to Somalia (IGASOM) and requests Uganda and Sudan to expeditiously mobilize peace support forces to Somalia in accordance with the IGAD Summit Resolution of 20 th March 2006 and the approved National Security Stabilization Plan (NSSP).

Noted that the United Nations Security Council Arms Embargo on Somalia do remain but exemptions be allowed to enable the Transitional Federal Government to establish its law and order enforcement institutions in accordance with the outcome of the TFG/IGAD/AU working group meeting.

Appeal to the international community for humanitarian assistance for the people of Somalia.

Request members of the international community not to offer official or non official unilateral assistance to any party or group of persons within Somalia without due consultation with IGAD and the TFG.

Mandate the Chairman of the IGAD Council of Ministers to present the decisions taken in this meeting to the Islamic Organization Conference (IOC) Council of Ministers’ meeting to be held Azerbaijan.

While welcoming the initiative by the United States of America on the Somalia, strongly advises against any unilateral and parallel initiatives which do not take due regard of consultation, regional efforts and reliable intelligence on Somalia.

Emphasized the need for closer coordination in the engagement of the international community towards Somalia, with a view to translating their commitments into concrete actions that would produce tangible results.

Mandate the Chair to present this Resolution to the AU Heads of State and Government Summit to be held in Banjul, The Gambia.

Issued in Nairobi on the Thirteenth Day of the Month of June, the Year of Two Thousand and Six.