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Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Deputy Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
December 27, 2024
AS DELIVERED
In the beginning, the United States expresses gratitude to all nations contributing troops and police for their dedication and sacrifices to ATMIS and AMISOM, and we honor those who have lost their lives in support of these missions. The battle against al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups in Somalia highlights the critical nature of our duty here today.
In this regard, I extend a warm welcome to the representatives from Somalia and Ethiopia.
Our choice to abstain from this resolution was not made lightly. In light of our serious apprehensions, I wish to emphasize that the United States remains devoted to aiding and enhancing African Union peace support operations.
Our dedication to Somalia spans decades. The United States offers bilateral assistance aimed at boosting security, fostering economic development, and promoting peace and stability – amounting to over 1.2 billion dollars annually.
As the largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping on a global scale, the United States has contributed, since the establishment of AU peace support efforts in Somalia with AMISOM, one quarter of the yearly budget for the UN Support and Stabilization Office in Somalia, delivering crucial, life-saving logistical assistance to AU troops and Somali security forces.
The United States is also proud to have facilitated the adoption of Resolution 2719 last December, which established a framework for this Council to authorize the utilization of UN assessed contributions to support AU peace and support operations. The United States has consistently been a supporter and ally of the African Union and recognizes the invaluable expertise the organization offers in conflict management on the continent.
Our support for Resolution 2719 was not merely as a funding source, but as a way to reinforce the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. U.S. backing for 2719 stemmed from actively listening to, and addressing, a longstanding request from our African partners.
However, in our perspective, the conditions required for an immediate transition to the application of 2719 in Somalia have not been satisfied.
Moreover, when the Security Council approved Resolution 2719, member states concurred that UN assessed contributions would cover no more than 75 percent of AU PSO annual budgets, with the remainder to be sourced from the international community collaboratively by the AU and the UN.
It is evident that the Council aimed for 2719 to pertain to logistical support and personnel under a “one mission, one budget” framework. The resolution specifies that UN assessed contributions will not surpass 75 percent of a mission’s annual budget and identified logistical support as an anticipated category, alongside personnel expenses.
In spite of this, the proposed “hybrid” model in today’s document suggests that the UN would continue to fully finance UNSOS through UN assessed contributions, and that 2719 would be applicable only to troop reimbursements. This arrangement would result in UN assessed contributions funding effectively over 90 percent of the total mission cost. This clearly deviates from what Resolution 2719 intended.
As previously stated during the adoption of 2719 – and as demonstrated through our actions and diplomatic endeavors since – the United States is prepared to collaborate with Security Council members and the African Union to determine how the remaining budget will be funded.
Nevertheless, we cannot endorse a resolution that employs this new model without acknowledging the intent to shift to a consolidated budget – as was illustrated in Resolution 2719 and in alignment with standard best practices in peacekeeping.
Additionally, for the record: We would not endorse a subvention, or any alternate mechanism, as a workaround to the purpose of a resolution sanctioned by this Council in order to access further assessed contributions.
From our standpoint, such a strategy, however convenient in the short term, could jeopardize the credibility of this new model in the long run.
Colleagues, the United States will remain a staunch advocate for the African Union’s peace support operations, and our partner Somalia. We will exert every effort to uphold and fortify Resolution 2719, as agreed upon by the Council, as a tool, including assessing the progress of the AU and UN against the benchmarks specified in the AU-UN Joint Roadmap.
We will assist both institutions as they endeavor to ensure the success of this tool and, most crucially, offer support to Somalia in its campaign against threats to its security and stability.
Thank you.
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