Somalia
Advocacy
Somali National Army (SNA) and Al-Shabaab are both listed for the recruitment and use and killing and maiming of children. Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah (ASWJ) is also listed for recruitment and use. In 2012, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) signed two action plans with the UN, one to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children, and one to end killing and maiming. On May 31, the AMISOM mandate will expire pursuant to SCR 2297 (2016). Council Members should:
- Encourage AMISOM to maintain the promotion of child protection as one of its priorities, fulfilled in part through the appointment of a Child Protection Adviser in January 2015, and to this end, call upon AMISOM to continue to coordinate with UNSOM’s child protection team;
- Call upon AMISOM to fully implement the Force Commander directive on the protection of children’s rights, and to comply with the standard operating procedures for the reception and handover of children separated from armed groups signed by the TFG;
- Urge federal and regional authorities to swiftly domesticate the country’s international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and resolve existing legal ambiguities related to the
definition of a child; - Express concern about the lack of transparency and oversight in the classification of children held on national security charges, the absence of a clear legal framework for children detained on security charges, and of international juvenile justice standards.
The United Kingdom is the lead country on Somalia. Kazakhstan chairs the 751/1907 Somalia/Eritrea committee.
This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update: May 2017.
UN Action
Year listed: 2003
Action Plans signed: Somali National Army – recruitment and use of children (July 2012)
Sanctions Committee: The Sanctions Committee on Somalia
Secretary-General’s reports on CAAC in Somalia: 2016; 2010; 2008; 2007
Security Council Working Group conclusions on Somalia: 2011; 2008; 2007
Missions: UNSOM, AMISOM
Perpetrators listed in the annexes of the Secretary-General’s annual reports on children and armed conflict
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transitional National Government | a | |||||||||||||
| Juba Valley Alliance | a | a | ||||||||||||
| Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council | a | |||||||||||||
| Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA) | a | a, b | ||||||||||||
| Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA/SNSC) of Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade | a | |||||||||||||
| United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance (USC/SSA)-faction of Muse Sudi Yalahow) | a | |||||||||||||
| Middle Shabelle Administration | a, b | |||||||||||||
| Puntland Administration | a, b | |||||||||||||
| Somali Patriotic Movement/Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council | a, b | |||||||||||||
| (SPM/SRRC) | ||||||||||||||
| United Somali Congress (USC) of Mohamed Kanyare Afrah | a, c | |||||||||||||
| United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance (USC/SSA) of Omar | a, c | |||||||||||||
| Mohamed | ||||||||||||||
| Lower Shabelle Administration | a | |||||||||||||
| Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter Terrorism (ARPCT) | a, b, d | |||||||||||||
| Union of the Islamic Courts (ICU) | a, b | |||||||||||||
| Remnants of the former Union of the Islamic Courts (UIC) | a, b | a, b, d | ||||||||||||
| Transitional Federal Government (TFG) | a, b, c, d, f | a, b, d | a, b | a, b | a, b | |||||||||
| Al-Shabaab* | a, b, d | a, b | a, b | a, b | a, b | a,b | a,b | a,b,e | ||||||
| Hizbul Islam | a | a, b | ||||||||||||
| Somali National Army (SNA) (Formerly listed as Somali National Armed Forces)~* | a, b | a,b | a,b | a,b | ||||||||||
| Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah (ASWJ) | a | a | a,b |
a: Parties that recruit and use children
b: Parties that kill and maim children
c: Parties that commit rape and other forms of sexual violence against children
d: Parties that engage in attacks on schools and/or hospitals
e: Parties that engage in abduction of children
f: Parties that deny humanitarian access to children
~ This party has concluded an action plan with the United Nations in line with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005).
* This party has been in the annexes for at least five years and is therefore considered a persistent perpetrator.
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