For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE 0001/2009

Nairobi, 9 January 2009 – A multi-disciplinary technical team from the United Nations will visit Nairobi and Addis Ababa next week to examine, among other tasks, ways that the UN can provide support to the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The team includes the UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia Charles Petrie, the UN Political Office for Somalia and representatives from UNHQ: Departments of Peacekeeping, Field Support and Political Affairs. The visit is a follow up to the increased attention given to Somalia since the Government of Ethiopia announced the withdrawal of its troops. In addition the UN Secretary General has undertaken a number of contacts, including with regional leaders, to ensure that AMISOM urgently receives the necessary support.

The Mission will hold wide ranging consultations on ways to support AMISOM, as well as Somalia’s transitional Security Forces and Police, and to provide the authorities with necessary backing.

The United Nations Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, said he was hopeful that the Mission would result in concrete and swift action.

“It is of critical importance that AMISOM receives material and financial support from the UN to enable its troops to remain effective and on the ground in Somalia,” he said.

“The Governments of Burundi and Uganda have helped enormously by providing the troops and they deserve gratitude and help.

“Likewise we need to reinforce and build up the Somali capacity on the ground to ensure they can take responsibility for the security of their people.”

For more information please contact: Susannah Price / Donna Cusumano, Public Information Officers, UN Political Office for Somalia (Nairobi, Kenya) Tel: +254 20 762 1192/1625 or +254 733902020/737400133
Please visit: www.UN-Somalia.org