UN Envoy pays first visit to the Republic of Somaliland, affirms developmental support

On his first visit to Somaliland, UN Envoy Mr James Swan announced UN’s commitments towards developmental activities in Somaliland and the democratization process.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative (SGRS) for Somaliland and Somalia, James Swan, arrived yesterday in Hargeisa, the capital of the Republic of Somaliland, to meet with the president local women leaders, and saw first-hand some of the world body’s support for humanitarian and development projects

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, HE Muse Bihi Abdi, received the delegation at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa today.

Boosting cooperation on humanitarian projects that the UN agencies implement in Somaliland is among the focal topics discussed in the meeting.

A joint press conference made by the Somaliland Finance Minister, Sa’ad Ali Shire and Mr James Swan highlighted that the meeting was successful.

The UN Special Envoy commended Somaliland’s success at maintaining peace and sustaining steady economic progress.

 Mr James said that having met with the president and government ministers, he discussed with them ways to further strengthen the dialogue approach in resolving disputes and strengthening peace and stability.

The UN special envoy also lauded the agreement reached by political parties yesterday in order to hold parliamentary and local council elections in Somaliland. He commented that UN agencies have increased their humanitarian efforts towards assisting vulnerable communities and refugees.

The Somaliland deputy president, finance, interior, livestock, and deputy finance minister were in attendance at the meeting between the President of Somaliland and the UN special envoy, Mr James Swan.

UN agencies are largely engaged in numerous activities in Somaliland, ranging from democratization process to emergency humanitarian assistance and developmental projects.

Mr James Swan and other top UN officials also paid a visit to Somaliland Service Institute (CSI) and held an hour-long meeting with Mr Farhan Aden Haybe and other top officials of the Civil Service Commission. Ways to increase the UN’s assistance to CSI and expanding the Institute to accommodate the training of both central and local government employees formed part of the crucial deliberations at the meeting.

The trip of the UN Envoy to Hargeisa saw an increased security presence as the delegation was escorted in armored vehicles, protected by UN special security forces. This is coming less than a week after the SGRS narrowly escaped a terrorist attack in Mogadishu regional building where he had a meeting with the Mayor of Somalia’s capital city. Mogadishu Mayor Eng. Abdirahman Yarisow was severely wounded in that attack while three district commissioners and several other high ranking regional officers lost their lives in the attack.