UNOSOM objectives affirmed, despite continuing violence.

• Position: United Nations Operation in Somalia

As violent clashes involving UN peace-keepers patrolling Mogadishu neighbourhoods escalated, the Security Council on 22 September affirmed the importance of successfully fulfilling the objectives of the UN operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II), so that its operation could be completed by March i995.

In unanimously adopting resolution 856 (1993), the Council enumerated UNOSOM'S objectives: the "facilitation of humanitarian assistance and the restoration of law and order, and of national reconciliation in a free, democratic and sovereign Somalia".

UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was urged to redouble his efforts to continue the process of national reconciliation and political settlement, and to help the Somali people in rehabilitating their institutions and economy. He was to provide a detailed plan setting out UNOSOM II's future strategy regarding its humanitarian, political and security activities.

Attacks on UNOSOM II personnel were condemned, and those ordering such "criminal acts" would be held individually responsible, the Council stressed.

The Secretary-General, his Special Representative for Somalia - Admiral Jonathan Howe of the United States - and all UNOSOM II personnel were commended for "their achievements in greatly improving the conditions of the Somali people", in particular eradicating starvation, establishing district councils, opening schools and helping in the resumption of normal life in most areas of the country.

The Council stressed the importance of continuing the peace process initiated by the Addis Ababa Agreement signed by Somali faction leaders on 27 March.

It also approved the Secretary-General's recommendations on reestablishing the Somali police, judicial and penal systems, and welcomed the proposal to convene a meeting of Member States interested in supporting UNOSOM II in accomplishing its task.

In Council debate, speakers voiced support for the continuing efforts of UNOSOM to reconstruct Somalia's institutions and economy, despite the violence in Mogadishu.

The United States said resolution 865 did "two crucial things": it set out in clear, unambiguous terms that the UN's principal goal in Somalia was to bring about political reconciliation in the country; and it lent support to the basic building-blocks of new political institutions - a police, judiciary and penal system.

The Russian Federation said the Mission's highest priority task was to support the Somali people in carrying out the process of national reconciliation, and to advance the restoration of regional and national institutions and civilian administration throughout the country.

Djibouti, a neighbouring State, said: "Little of lasting substance will be achieved unless the threat of violence is removed". Rapid disarmament should remain a priority. "A nation, a non-State", was being resurrected and the UN must "leave no stone unturned to complete its mission".

Deviating from goals?

Concerns over the direction taken by UNOSOM II were addressed by the Secretary-General in a 17 August report (S/26317). He said he was "conscious of the feeling in some quarters that UNOSOM is deviating from its primary task of ensuring the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance" and was "concentrating disproportionate efforts and resources in military operations".

While some of that criticism was "motivated by good intentions", the Secretary-General said, effective disarmament of all factions and warlords was essential. Unless disarmament is fully implemented, it would not be reasonable to expect UNOSOM to fulfil other aspects of its mandate", he stated.

Support for the UN effort and the need for disarmament in Somalia had been voiced by the Council of Ministers of the Organization...