Baidoa – Issues affecting South West State, and Somalia as a whole, were the focus of a visit today to the Federal Member State’s biggest city by the top United Nations official for Somalia.
“The President and I discussed a wide range of state and national issues, including security, preparations for elections, and humanitarian needs,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan.
“He briefed me on efforts to strengthen security across South West State, as well as on the successful recovery of Sabiid and Bariire, in Lower Shabelle,” he added.
The UN official was speaking at a joint media encounter with South West State’s President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’ following a meeting between the two and members of their teams.
South West State currently hosts some 800,000 people who have been displaced by the country’s dire humanitarian situation, as well as ongoing conflict with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Baidoa alone has around 650,000 internally displaced persons.
The two officials addressed the topic.
“We also spoke about the challenges of supporting displaced communities at a time of uncertainty in humanitarian funding. I assured the President that, despite global funding shortfalls, the United Nations will continue to do its utmost within available resources to assist those most in need,” Mr. Swan said.
With Somalia gearing up for electoral processes, the UN Special Representative and the South West State leader also touched on the Federal Member State’s voter registration drive, which includes mobile registration initiatives designed to ensure the inclusion of women, youth, internally displaced persons, and marginalised communities.
Current national issues also figured in their discussions, with the UN representative highlighting the need for coming together in a spirit of goodwill and engagement.
“I underscored the importance of unity and inclusive dialogue among Somalia’s political and Federal Member State leaders, and I noted that President Abdiaziz has played a constructive role in such efforts in the past and could also play a helpful role in the future,” Mr. Swan said.
“In conclusion,” he continued, “let me stress that the United Nations will remain a partner to South West State and to the Federal Government of Somalia in advancing peace, state-building, responses to security threats, and humanitarian and development needs of the Somali people.”
