New UN Rep to the Federal Republic of Somalia

[General Duke]

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SOMALIA AHMEDOU OULD-ABDALLAH CALLS FOR SOMALIS TO FIND IN THEIR GLORIOUS PAST THE STRENGTH FOR

PRESS RELEASE 001/2007

 

SG Special Representative to Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdalla

Nairobi, 17 September, 2007 - First of all, I am grateful to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for my appointment as his Special representative to Somalia, one of his main priorities.

I am fully aware of the many challenges and the need for strong and sustained commitments from all sides.

 

I will be in the region this week and plan to address Somalia’s serious situation with a fair and open-minded approach. I will be listening to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and to all Somalis without any preconceived ideas or views.

 

Indeed, I am distressed by the long suffering of Somalia. The humanitarian and human rights situation – the worst on the continent- are unacceptable. Somalis are a great people with a long history, sharing the same culture, language and religion. Few countries in Africa can claim such an advantageous inheritance.

 

Somalia does not deserve to be an international case study on how to manage conflict. On the contrary, it should become again a responsible and active member of the regional and international community. That depends first of all on Somalis themselves and, more specifically on their political, business, and religious elite within and outside the country.

 

It is the responsibility of this elite to rise beyond personnel and other short term considerations, and to come together to rebuild the country. Somalis should find in their long history the strength and courage to consolidate the process that will lead to renewed unity and pride.

 

I will be along with them on that “straight way”.

Somalia’s external partners strive to help rebuild a country able to take care of its citizens and find again its traditional role in the sub region. Like Somalis themselves, they are aware that without a government, as Hobbes stated a few centuries ago, “life is nasty, brutal and short”.

 

I will meet all these partners and will call on them to ensure that we have a common approach and joint action in addressing the situation. We should all – Somalia, UN, and other partners – work together towards a steady return to peace and stability. We shall overcome.