Somalia 
UN concerned over Somali "violence and anarchy"

afrol News, 7 September - The United Nations is losing its illusions about achieving political stability in Somalia. "Violence and anarchy" were only increasing despite years of UN efforts to promote peace and reconciliation, top officials indicate. A total UN withdrawal was not planned yet, however.

Reacting with concern to intensifying violence in Somalia, a senior UN official in the country yesterday urged factions to settle their differences peacefully. "Somalia has become a watchword for violence and anarchy around the world," said Winston Tubman, the Representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "This vicious cycle of violence must stop," he added, calling on all Somalis to seek peaceful means to settle disputes. 

Mr Tubman pointed out that "the pervasive climate of insecurity" was not conducive to preparations under way for yet another Somalia National Reconciliation conference. "Somalis should not squander another opportunity to find peace, but should be seeking ways to reconcile among themselves before the international interest in their country dissipates," he said. 

Mr Tubman's statement came in response to outbreaks of sporadic fighting in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Puntland and the Gedo region. The clashes caused heavy loss of lives and jeopardise the new round of peace and reconciliation talks. The split-up of Somalia's territorial integrity has also been further cemented during the last year and the internationally recognised Mogadishu TNG government has started to look more and more like the many warlord fractions.

The UN itself has also seen four of its staff taken hostage in Mogadishu over the last six months. Only on Wednesday, one of its national project staff members was freed during a fracas after being detained for nine days.

Mohamed Farah Omar, who had been abducted on 27 August in the Somali capital of Mogadishu while working for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was set free on Wednesday morning when factional fighting broke out in north Mogadishu near the building where he was being held. After his captors fled, Mr Omar was freed along with five other Somalis who had been kidnapped and held in the same location. 

- This appalling wave of criminal abductions is not just affecting UN staff, says Maxwell Gaylard, the UN's designated security official in Somalia. "There are reports that many more ordinary Somalis have also been kidnapped, including children."

UN operations in Somalia are significantly curtailed by the growing insecurity in the country. Presently, Somalia's Gedo region is closed to all UN air operations and international staff because of insecurity. Official visits by UN staff to the capital Mogadishu or the south-western town of Baidoa have also recently been cancelled due to "security concerns".

While Somalia's official government has asked the UN to get heavier involved in the country - also to send peacekeeping troops to end factional fighting - the UN is keeping its operations to a minimum. Especially the increased problem of abductions of UN staff has caused speculations over a total UN withdrawal from the country. This is however so far denied by UN officials.

Sources: Based on UN sources and afrol archives

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