UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) — The UN Security Council on Thursdayexpressed concern at the deteriorated situation in the Juba regions, Somalia, callingfor restraint from any action that may threaten peace and stability.
In a statement, the members of the Council called on all parties to engage with thefederal government of Somalia in a constructive manner to achieve a peacefulresolution to the current crisis and to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation.
Clashes flared on Saturday in Kismayo, a southern Somali port city in Juba regions,between militia fighters loyal to two rival leaders in the city. The Horn of Africa nation’sgovernment is organizing dialogue for rival leaders in the port city over the formation ofa regional state for three southern provinces of Gedo, Lower Juba and Middle Juba.
In the statement, the 15-nation body underlined its support for the development of aneffective federal system of government in respect of the sovereignty and territorialintegrity of Somalia, in order to ensure a constructive and sincere partnership betweenthe federal government and local and regional administrations, the statement said.
The most powerful UN body stressed “the importance of the issues in the Juba regionsnot distracting from the urgent need to end the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and bring,security and prosperity to the Somali people, the overwhelming majority of whom arecommitted to peace through dialogue.”
“In that context, the members of the Council underscored their support for the AfricanUnion Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and reiterated their willingness to take actionagainst those who undermine the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia,” saidthe statement.
Kismayo has been under the control of Al-Shabaab until September last year when theport city fell into the hands of allied Somali government forces and Kenya contingent ofAMISOM.
Somalia has been torn asunder by factional fighting since 1991 but has recently madeprogress towards stability. In 2011, Islamist Al-Shabaab insurgents retreated fromMogadishu and last year new government institutions emerged, as the country endeda transitional phase and will hold national elections in 2016.
Via: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
