No intention of leaving Somalia: UN

Thursday, April 24, 2014

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MOGADISHU -- UN Somalia Mission spokesman on Wednesday denied reports that the world body would withdraw from the Horn of African nation if it suffered "significant attacks" by militants.

Spokesman of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Aleem Siddique, said in an email statement that UN has no plan to withdraw Somalia and that envoy was merely describing the current prevailing security situation in Mogadishu.

"We have no intention of leaving Somalia anytime soon; the SRSG was simply making a reference to the volatile security situation that needs to be addressed," Siddique said.

The Statement come after Special Representative UN Secretary General (SRSG) for Somalia envoy Nicholas Kay's remarks on Tuesday at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington.

"I am deeply conscious that if we make a mistake in our security presence and posture, and suffer a significant attack, particularly on U.N., this is likely to mean to us withdrawing from Somalia," said the envoy.

The remarks come following the separate killing of two Somali lawmakers in Mogadishu over the past two days.

Siddique reiterated UNSOM's commitment in supporting Somalia saying the mission "remains resolute in its support for the Somali people and their Government."

The UNSOM spokesman said UN this week began deploying guard units of about 400 soldiers "to mitigate the threats we face and to ensure that UN operations in Mogadishu can continue."

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