Reaffirming full respect for the “sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia”, the UN body expressed its special concern about the ongoing violence in Las Anod.
The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Wednesday expressed concern about the ongoing violence in northern Somalia and called for an urgent ceasefire as well as the immediate withdrawal of security forces from Somaliland.
Reaffirming full respect for the “sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia”, the UN body has expressed particular concern about the ongoing violence in Las Anodlocated in the Sool region of northern Somalia, which resulted in large numbers of civilian casualties and the displacement of more than 150,000 people.
The members of the Security Council welcomed the efforts and initiatives of the Federal Government of Somalia, Ethiopia and local elders to quell hostilities and promote an inclusive national dialogue and called on all parties to urgently reach a ceasefire agreement. and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Among the calls launched in the statement is also one directed at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (Unsom) to provide more support in accordance with its mandate, including “engagement with all parties where necessary”.
The Council also condemned protests suppressed by security forces in Somaliland – an independent region in northern Somalia – in December last year, resulting in deaths and injuries, as well as acts of violence against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
In this regard, the member states of the Council urged the immediate withdrawal of security forces from Somaliland and urged restraint and refraining from provocative actions, reminding all parties of their obligations under international law. The Security Council concluded the communiqué with a request addressed to all donors, step up the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential assistance to the region.
Somalia has been in a state of war and chaos since 1991, when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown, leaving the country without an effective government and in the hands of Islamist militias and warlords.
In recent months, Somalia has intensified its offensive against the terrorist group Al-Shebab – linked to the fundamentalist group Al-Qaeda – with the support of clans and local militias, in the framework of a series of decisions taken by the president, Hassan Shaykh. Mohamud, who pledged, upon his inauguration, to place the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the country.
Source: Observadora
