Dabrow Posted June 8, 2013 UNITED NATIONS, June 7 (UPI) -- The fledgling government in Somalia could face a volatile future given political rivalries developing along the coast, the U.N. deputy secretary-general said. Somalia last year established a formal central government in Mogadishu for the first time since the 1990s. Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud has boasted of the country's fundamental gains, but expressed concern about the ongoing threat from militant group al-Shabaab. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Security Council political progress could unravel in Somalia without enduring international support. "Somalia will require sustained and generous international support to continue on the path of progress," he said in a statement Thursday. "This means a clear commitment to the federal government to rapidly develop its plans and build its capacities." Delegates at a London donors conference for Somalia in May expressed similar concerns, saying Somalia has a long road to stability ahead. Eliasson raised concerns about the central government's authority after delegates to a May conference declared a regional state in the coastal city of Kismayo. "While there have so far been no reports of military confrontation, the situation remains volatile," Eliasson said. The central government declared the state to be unconstitutional. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabrow Posted June 8, 2013 China on Thursday called on the United Nations and the international community to continue to play an active and constructive role in addressing the Somalia issue and advancing the peace process in the country. Li Baodong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said at an open Security Council meeting on the situation in Somalia that “We support the new government of Somalia in implementing an interim Constitution, carrying out its six-point plan, strengthening institutional capacity, exercising government functions and extending effective authority over all its national territory.” The Chinese envoy stressed that national reconciliation is the only way to build lasting peace in Somalia, urging different factions in the country to renounce violence and to join the peace process unconditionally as soon as possible. “We hope the Somali parties will, for the greater good of national stability and development, strengthen unity and cooperation, and bridge their differences through dialogue and consultations, preserve the national integrity and stability, and promote economic and social development,” he said. Li also drew attention to the efforts of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other regional organizations in addressing the Somalia issue. “We hope that, when dealing with the issue, the United Nations and the international community will further strengthen coordination with regional countries and organizations, and take fully into account their views,” he said. However, he noted, this should be done on the basis of respecting Somalia’s sovereignty. In addition, Li called for rapid and full deployment of the recently established UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (USM), as well as increased financial assistance to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Last month, the Security Council unanimously voted to establish a new UN mission in Somalia to gradually take over the peacekeeping tasks currently performed by AMISOM. The mandate of this political mission began on Monday for an initial period of one year. Somalia has been torn asunder by factional fighting since 1991 but has recently made progress towards stability. In 2011, Islamist Al-Shabaab insurgents retreated from Mogadishu and last year new government institutions emerged, as the country ended a transitional phase and will hold national elections in 2016. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
