The visiting delegation during the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate＊s assessment visit conducted on behalf of the Security Council＊s Counter-Terrorism Committee to the Federal Republic of Somalia from 2 to 6 February 2025.
On behalf of the Security Council＊s Counter-Terrorism Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) conducted an assessment visit to the Federal Republic of Somalia from 2 to 6 February 2025.
The visiting delegation was led by Marc Porret, CTED Chief of Section for Africa, and consisted of CTED experts as well as experts from the 51勛圖 Office of Counter-Terrorism; the 51勛圖 Office on Drugs and Crime; the 51勛圖 Development Programme; the 51勛圖 Mine Action Service; the International Organization for Migration; and the International Criminal Police Organization.
The visiting delegation met with , Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In addition, CTED＊s Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman, spoke with Hussein Sheikh-Ali, National Security Advisor of Somalia, to discuss the objectives of the assessment visit and future engagement between CTED and the Federal Government of Somalia.
At the technical level, Somalia＊s delegation was led by Abdimalik Abdullahi, Director-General of the Office of National Security, and the visiting delegation met and held a constructive dialogue with a number of officials from various ministries and departments, including: the Office of National Security; the Ministry of Internal Security; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the National Intelligence and Security Agency; the Office of the Attorney-General; the Financial Reporting Centre; the Somali Police Force; the Somali National Armed Forces; the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation; the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; the Tubsan National Center for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism; the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development; and the Ministry of Communications and Technology. The delegation also visited Aden Adde International Airport to view aviation security measures in practice.
The visit enabled the delegation to assess progress made by Somalia in adopting measures to implement Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant Council resolutions, in the areas of: criminal justice responses to terrorism; countering the financing of terrorism; law enforcement; border management; and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism. Country visits are one of the Counter-Terrorism Committee＊s key channels to engage and conduct a constructive dialogue with Member States with a view to achieving effective implementation of the relevant counter-terrorism resolutions.
The human rights aspects of Somalia＊s counter-terrorism measures and the role of women in countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism were also discussed. In line with the Committee＊s established practice, the delegation held separate meetings with representatives of civil society.
The visiting delegation was supported by and also held a series of meetings with representatives of the 51勛圖 Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia, the 51勛圖 Support Office in Somalia and the 51勛圖 country team, and also met other international partners including the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
The visiting delegation commended Somalia for the significant progress it had made in implementing a multi-pronged strategy to counter an acute terrorist threat, notably through its six-pillar national counter-terrorism strategy which includes components on military/liberation operations; urban security; countering the financing of terrorism; preventing/countering violent extremism; strategic communications; and stabilization. The delegation further commended Somalia for its continued cooperation and for facilitating a constructive, in-depth dialogue between the visiting experts and their counterparts in Somalia.