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UN launches new mission in Somalia with fresh mandate

 African Union-United Nations Information Support Team on Monday, Nicholas Kay (centre), the new Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of the new UN political mission for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) (right) , speak to the media during a joint press briefing with Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon (left) at the mission’s headquarters in the Somali capital Mogadishu. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon welcomed the launch of the UN office as a “vote of confidence in the new Somalia.”

Mogadishu, Tuesday. The United Nations has opened a new Somalia office to replace the previous UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).

The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was launched on Sunday after the arrival of UN envoy Nicholas Kay in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

The new UN Somalia office comes with a new mandate “to support state building and peace building.” Kay, the new special representative of the UN Secretary-General in the country, said upon his arrival in Mogadishu he was pleased to work with the people and government of Somalia.

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“I am very pleased to be in Mogadishu and to have this opportunity to support the Federal Government and people of Somalia to bring peace, security and prosperity back to Somalia,” he said.

Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon welcomed the launch of the UN office as a “vote of confidence in the new Somalia.”

“You have shown the world that to engage with Somalia it is possible - and indeed necessary - to come to Somalia,” the Somali prime minister told the UN envoy.

Special African Union representative for Somalia Mahamat Saleh Annadif also gave his welcoming remarks: “I wish to affirm my support, as head of Amisom, to the UN Assistance Mission to ensure that the people of Somalia realise their dream of a peaceful and stable country.”

Kay, a British national, will take over from the Tanzanian, Augustine Mahiga, who headed the UNPOS.

According to the mission website, Kay served as Africa director at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office until 2012 and previously as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (2007 to 2010) and  to Sudan (2010 to 2012).

UNSOM will be headquartered in Mogadishu with offices in Hargeisa and Garowe in the north of the country. It plans to open other offices in the central Somalia towns of Beledweyne and Baidoa. (Xinhua)

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