What David Shin said to the Istanbul Conference Communique on Somalia

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Second Istanbul Conference on Somalia took place on 31 May - 1 June 2012. Click here to read the final communique.

The conference did not provide any surprises and followed in the footsteps of the London Conference earlier this year. It did demonstrate Turkey's willingness to remain engaged in Somalia. It emphasized the need to implement a smooth transition as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia comes to an end in August. On Somaliland, it supported dialogue between Hargeisa and the TFG. It also noted "the need to adjust international support to the political structures in Somaliland" whatever that means.

On security in Somalia, the Conference agreed to revitalize funding arrangements and took note of the proposal for the establishment of a new "Rebuilding and Restructuring Fund for the Somali Security Sector" initiated by Turkey to offer additional support to the Somali security forces. Again, it is not clear what Turkey plans to offer.