United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid an unannounced visit to Mogadishu on Friday together with the President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, to express the solidarity of the United Nations at what he called a “critical juncture” for the future of the Somali people.“We have come here to see for [ourselves] the changes under way and show the strong solidarity of the United Nations and the broader international community,” Ban said at a press conference in the capital. This is the first time that a Secretary-General and Assembly President have visited Somalia together, and the first by a UN chief in nearly two decades. The two men met with President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and other leaders to discuss the way ahead and how the international community can help the country, which has been torn by factional strife for the past 20 years. “I believe we are now at a critical juncture – a moment of fresh opportunities for the future of [the] Somali people,” said Ban, who met with President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and other leaders to discuss the way ahead and how the international community can help the country, which has been torn by factional strife for the past 20 years. “On the political front, to bring a new measure of stability and possibilities to people's lives. On the military front, to consolidate gains,” he stated. “On the recovery front, to help break the cycle of famine, poverty once and for all.” Ban said he stressed to the Somali leadership the importance of “seizing the moment,” adding that there is a very limited window of opportunity. On the political front, he emphasized the need to move ahead quickly with the roadmap that was agreed in September and which spells out priority measures to be implemented before the current transitional governing arrangements end next August, in the areas of security, the drafting of a new constitution and reconciliation. “It must be done in an inclusive and transparent way,” said the Secretary-General, adding that further extension of this roadmap will be “untenable.” He also highlighted the need to advance on the constitution and parliamentary reform. BM/UN ShortURL: http://goo.gl/d1IZ5 Tags: Famine, Somalia, UN Section: East Africa, Food, Health, Latest News
