Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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We have consistently condemned the continuing violence by Boko Haram against innocent civilians.

Ireland supports the work of the EU and the UN to reduce the influence of Boko Haram and to prevent its attacks. In the Lake Chad Basin, where Boko Haram is active, Ireland is playing its part in helping to tackle the consequences of armed conflict and forced displacement. Since 2015, we have provided over €37 million in bilateral assistance for the Lake Chad region, including North-East Nigeria. This includes funding to Concern Worldwide, Goal, and Plan International Ireland, as well as to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). As a Member State, Ireland also contributes to the significant European Union development and humanitarian response in countries affected by Boko Haram violence.

Ireland is also contributing directly to peace and security efforts. Through the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the UN Peacebuilding Commission, the UN is working to stabilise the Lake Chad region. During Ireland's term on the Security Council we were co-penholder with Niger and subsequently Ghana on the UNOWAS file. Ireland is also a member of the International Support Group of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy for the Lake Chad Basin, and has observer status at the Sahel Alliance Both are forums which enable donors to coordinate support in addressing the challenges in Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland strongly condemns the violence against civilians perpetrated by Al-Shabaab and supports international efforts to reduce its influence and assist affected populations.

During our 2021-22 term as an elected member of the UN Security Council, Ireland worked closely on the Al-Shabaab threat in Somalia, including chairing the Somalia Sanctions Committee. Ireland particularly influenced the creation of the mandate for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which has a critical role in directly combatting Al-Shabaab. Our work aimed to bolster Somalia’s security sector and help the authorities challenge Al-Shabaab’s control of large parts of the country.

We remain engaged on Somalia, both bilaterally and through the European Union, helping shape the EU’s support for ATMIS, the Somalia security sector, and the operation of relevant EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions. The EU is the main long-term partner of Somalia with significant assistance, amounting to over €4.3 billion since 2009, including €2.5 billion to support ATMIS and its predecessor Mission, and, more recently, the Somali National Army.

Since 2018, Ireland has provided over €40 million in direct humanitarian funding to Somalia, including over €6 million in 2023. This assistance is channelled primarily through UN partners and Irish non-governmental organisations on the ground. Ireland also supports development partners working to bolster community resilience and promote peace and stability, amounting to over €7.4 million since 2018. Over the next three years, Ireland has committed to provide €15 million to a new programme to address child wasting in the Horn of Africa, with a particular focus on the borderlands of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.