Kismaayo and the way forward

[Carafaat]

Agreement between Somalia government and Jubba delegation

 

The United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) welcomed the agreement between the federal government of Somalia and the Jubba delegation

 

The United Nations and the African Union (AU) on Thursday welcomed the signing on Wednesday in Addis Ababa of an agreement regarding the current political, governance and security situation of the Jubbas.

 

Under the auspices of Ethiopia, Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Chair of the AU, an agreement between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Jubba delegation was signed regarding the current political, governance and security situation of the Jubbas.

 

"AU Chairperson of the Commission Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma commended the Somali parties for reaching this historic agreement, which is a further illustration of the capacity of the Somalis to triumph over their differences," the AU said in a statement.

 

The Chairperson thanked Ethiopia for its efforts, the committed resources and its dedication in facilitating the negotiations between the parties.

 

"In this respect, the chairperson looked forward to the successful holding of the High-Level Conference on a New Deal for Somalia, scheduled to take place in Brussels on 16 September 2013," the statement highlighted .

 

"Somali authorities and other stakeholders of the AU’s continued commitment, notably through AMISOM, to assist them in consolidating the tremendous progress they have made," otğ chairperson assured.

 

The United Nations envoy in Somalia on Wednesday also welcomed the agreement signed between the country's Federal Government and the Interim Jubba Administrationx establishing the terms of governance in three southern regions.

 

“This is a significant step towards restoring peace in Somalia, building a strong Federal Somalia and contributing to regional and international security” said the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, Nicholas Kay. “This agreement unlocks the door to a better future for Somalia,” the UN stated.

 

The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, by the federal government's minister of state, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, and the leader of the Interim Jubba administration, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan Madobe. It established the modalities of administration and governance in the Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions.

 

Somalia has been torn asunder by factional fighting since 1991 but has recently made progress towards stability. In 2011, Al-Shabaab insurgents retreated from Mogadishu and last year new government institutions emerged as the country ended a transitional phase toward setting up a permanent, democratically-elected government.

[Carafaat]

UN Mission to set up station in southern Somalia’s Kismayo port

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) will establish a presence in Kismayo to support the new Jubba Interim Administration, Nicholas Kay, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia and Head of UNSOM, has announced.

 

Kay’s announcement followed the signing of an internationally supported agreement between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Interim Jubba Administration here late Wednesday.

 

The agreement establishes the modalities of administration and governance in the Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo south and south-western regions of the Horn of Africa country.

 

UNSOM is mandated to support peace-building and state-building as well as the Federal Government’s peace and reconciliation process in the country. Meanwhile, the Federal Government and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have called for a reconciliation conference to follow the new agreement.

 

The deal is expected to bring to an end months of standoff and political dispute over the future of Jubba area and Kismayo.According to Kay, UNSOM stands ready to assist the proposed conference.

 

Source:PANA