Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI:Visiting South West State, a top United Nations official in Somalia covered a range of local topics with the Federal Member State’s leadership, in addition to reiterating the need for discussion on various national issues the country faces, reported africanews.com.
“I underscored the importance of unity and inclusive dialogue among Somalia’s political and community leaders,” said James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, while also adding that the national matters include security priorities and election planning.
“And I reiterated,” he continued, “the position of Somalia’s international partners: we welcome the initiative announced by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in his Eid-al-Fitr message to arrange a platform that brings together the full range of Somali voices to advance the country’s state-building priorities and respond effectively to the Al-Shabaab threat.”
The UN Special Representative made the comments at a joint press encounter with South West State’s President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’ after meeting with him and members of his administration at the Federal Member State’s State House.
On April 29, Swan made a similar call in press remarks after meeting with Galmudug’s President Ahmed Abdi Karie ‘Qoor Qoor’ and members of his team in that Federal Member State’s capital, Dhusamareb.
A group made up of 28 of Somalia’s international partners – including the United Nations – issued a statement in early April welcoming the proposal of the country’s President to organise a platform for Somali political and community leaders to ensure their views and efforts form part of the fight against terrorism and the establishment of a democratic and federal system of Government.
Specifically to South West State, the President and UN official covered a range of topics, including state-building, security and humanitarian needs.
The UN Special Representative highlighted that that they touched on ongoing preparations for voter registration with the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), as well as direct local council elections. “In that regard, I recalled the importance of an open political environment to permit the successful conduct of elections at all levels,” Swan said. The serious humanitarian situation in South West State was also discussed, especially in the face of global uncertainties in maintaining aid levels.
“In collaboration with humanitarian partners, the United Nations is working hand-in-hand with the South West State authorities to address these urgent needs,” Swan said. “And we want to give priority to those who most need assistance. We also, of course, want to link the humanitarian response to this state’s longer-term development needs.” On the security front, the UN Special Representative spoke to South West State’s steadfastness in the fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
