US-backed forces of the Somalia Transitional Federal Government and AMISOM enter the town of Wanlaweyn. The Horn of Africa nation is being occupied by imperialism utilizing proxy forces from the region., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
UN Security Council approves new UN political mission in Somalia
The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to establish the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, to be known as UNSOM and based in the country’s capital, Mogadishu, from 3 June for an initial period of 12 months.
A UN statement, made available to PANA in New York on Friday, stated that the Council decided to set up the new mission in order to “effectively coordinate international support for Somalia’s Federal Government'.
It said that the mandate of the new mission included providing UN ‘good offices’ functions to support peace and reconciliation, assisting the government and the existing African Union peacekeeping force known as AMISOM with advice on peacebuilding and State building.
Others are assisting in coordinating international support, helping to build capacity in human rights and the rule of law and monitoring and helping to prevent human rights violations.
The Council said it noted the progress in Somalia and had on 6 March adopted a resolution extending for another year the mandate AMISOM and partially lifting the 20-year arms embargo imposed on the country.
It also agreed with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the 15-year-old UN Political Mission in Somalia (UNPOS) had fulfilled its mandate and 'should be dissolved and replaced by a new expanded special political mission as soon as possible.”
The statement disclosed that Ban had followed up by sending an assessment mission to Somalia and the region from 17 to 29 March, led by the UN Department of Political Affairs.
It also said that the core function of the new UN mission would be to act as an enabler and assisting the Federal Government of Somalia to create the political and strategic environment in which peacebuilding could proceed.
It further said the Council decided that the new mission will be headed by a Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and will be based in the capital, Mogadishu, with further deployment throughout the country as requested by the government.
The resolution stated that, “with immediate effect”, all appropriate activities of the UN Country Team should be fully coordinated with the head of the new mission.
The Council also requests the Special Representative to “align closely” and coordinate the activities of UNSOM with those of the Somali government, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
It, however, expressed concern at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia and its impact on the people of the country, but commended the efforts of the UN humanitarian agencies and other relief organizations and aid workers in delivering life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations.
Somalia has been torn 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 towards setting up a permanent, democratically-elected government.
Pana 04/05/2013
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