Lower Juba Governor discussed with the UNSOM the ways of joint cooperation

[Deeq A.]

By Ahmed Abdi

KISMAAYO—The Governor of lower Juba Abdirashid Ali Gooni and United Nations’ Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) discussed  Sunday ways to further strengthen their relations.

Office of the Governor said in a statement that “Mr. Gooni met with Representative of the United Nations Support Office in Kismayo,megnus Bjarnason, noting that, “the two sides stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between the Jubaland State of Somalia and United Nations Mission.

“Governor Gooni praised the UN’s efforts to support Jubaland in terms of Security and humanitarian fields as well as the help extended to families repatriated to Jubaland from Dadaab refugee, Kenya,” the statement said.

During the meeting, Mr. Bjarnason said the UN’s support of Jubaland State in all areas will continue and the Mission is exploring ways to create jobs for the returned Somali Nationals from refugee camps, according to the statement.

In a separate statement, the governor called on the local officials and Governmental institutions from Jubaland to facilitate the work of the United Nations and International partners in part of enhancing cooperation between Jubaland and UN.

This autonomous state has strategically situated the mouth of the Indian Ocean and the entrance to the Red Sea. It will connect the Eastern African region to the outside World for the near future.

Experts say Jubaland is the most prosperous regional state that has the largest coast of Somalia.

Turkey and UAE sent delegations to Kismayo in an effort to present themselves in a region believed its natural resources mainly oil unexploited. Ras-kamboni, a coastal town in the Indian Ocean near Kenya border is thought to have rich deposits of oil and other marine resources.

The United States first built the port of Kismayo and China involved in some industrial projects in Jubaland before the civil war in the 1990s.