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The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the African Union (AU) to play a greater role in providing humanitarian relief to the people of Somalia, who are currently facing a devastating famine that is affecting the entire Horn of Africa. As the organisation tasked with providing Africa’s response to continental crises, the AU should be at the forefront of the humanitarian effort. While the DA acknowledges the efforts of the United Nations World Food Programme, the World Bank, and Somalia’s neighbouring states of Kenya and Ethiopia, the apparent absence of assistance from the AU is of serious concern.

The AU has remained silent both on how it will contribute to the relief effort, and on proposals to help provide sustainable solutions to famine and its underlying political causes. The DA calls on the AU to join the international effort and start playing the leadership role that Africa requires.

The situation in Somalia is dire. The United Nations has officially declared a famine in two regions of Somalia, but the whole region’s food security is under stress due to a terrible drought, violent conflict within the country, and a lack of political stability. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 720 000 children could die from malnutrition and hunger if they are not given immediate assistance. Many thousands more face starvation as they try to flee the area on foot.

The AU already has a presence on the ground in the form of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which provides peacekeeping services to the government in Mogadishu. It is primarily a military mission meant to stabilise the country and bring greater security. However, this intervention needs to become much more substantial and humanitarian-based if it is to stem the effects of the drought and famine.

The South African government has pledged R1 million to assist with humanitarian relief. The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that R2.4 billion is required. The AU should be rallying those member countries that have the capacity to provide humanitarian and military assistance, like South Africa, to assist with the situation in Somalia as a matter of urgency.

I will today be writing to the Chairperson of the AU, Dr Jean Ping, to request that the AU immediately step in to provide as much assistance as possible to the people of Somalia.