HC Deb 23 February 1994 vol 238 cc278-9W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what significant changes in the United. Nations position on Somalia have been made following the recent meeting of the Security Council.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Security Council reviewed the mandate of UNOSOM II during late January/early February in light of the decision by the United States of America and most European nations to withdraw most of their forces from Somalia at the end of March 1994.

SCR 897 of 4 February 1994 redefines UNOSOM II's mandate as:

  1. (a) Encouraging and assisting the Somali parties in implementing the "Addis Ababa Agreements", in particular in their co-operative efforts to achieve disarmament and to respect the ceasefire;
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  2. (b) Protecting major ports and airports and essential infrastructure and safeguarding the lines of communications vital to the provision of humanitarian relief and reconstruction assistance;
  3. (c) Continuing its efforts to provide humanitarian relief to all in need throughout the country;
  4. (d) Assisting in the reorganisation of the Somali police and judicial system;
  5. (e) Helping with the repatriation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons;
  6. (f) Assisting also in the ongoing political process in Somalia, which should culminate in the installation of a democratically elected government;
  7. (g) Providing protection for the personnel, installations and equipment of the United Nations and its agencies, as well as of non-governmental organisations providing humanitarian relief and reconstruction assistance.

The main difference between the new mandate and the previous one is that United Nations troops will no longer attempt to disarm factions by coercive means, but will instead rely on the parties to disarm voluntarily.

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