United Nations special representative sets up office in Somalia after 17 years

The United Nations Political Office for Somalia on Tuesday relocated to Mogadishu, after an absence of 17 years, giving hope that the country is on track towards stability.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia has been based in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi since 1995.

The current SRSG, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga was welcomed at the Mogadishu airport by Transitional Federal Government of Somalia Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Somali officials and foreign diplomats.

He said he was delighted that the UNPOS would now be working from the Somali capital.

“I sincerely hope that the arrival of the UN Political Office will mark the start of renewed hope for the future of Somalia,” Mr Mahiga said, according to a statement from the UNPOS.

“Being in Mogadishu will allow us to work far more closely with the Transitional Federal Institutions, the UN agencies and NGOs already based here, civil society and ordinary Somalis. We have much to do and we are eager to get straight to work.”

The last SRSG to be based in Mogadishu, James Victor Gbeho of Ghana, who was with the UN Operations in Somalia II (UNOSOM II), left in early 1995.

UNPOS was established shortly afterwards and was based in Nairobi.

However UN staff remained in Somalia throughout the following years and at present six agencies have permanent staff in Mogadishu.

After his arrival and the raising of the UN Flag, Mr Mahiga proceeded to Villa Somalia where he was welcomed by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and officially presented his credentials.

The SRSG then visited Amisom headquarters to inspect a guard of honour and pay tribute to the African Union peacekeepers and the Somali Security forces.

“Without the incredible efforts and sacrifice of the troops from Somalia and other African countries, we would not be here today,” Mr Mahiga said.

He said UNPOS’s move to Somalia would herald the beginning of a new era of cooperation and political engagement with Somalia as the transitional period draws to a close.

Mr Mahiga will spend today at Villa Somalia for discussions with his Somali interlocutors on resolving the ongoing Parliamentary crisis and will also meet the UN country team.

“Now we are here working among you, I believe we will see significant progress on implementing priority tasks in the roadmap to restore peace and stability to Somalia,” he said.

Relative calm has returned to Mogadishu in the last one year with Amisom and TFG forces gaining ground against the militants.